March 28, 2008
There's provocative commentary from the BBC's Darren Waters (left), who wonders if the Internet got off with a Tanya Byron slap on the wrist while video games will face new rating system and new governance of sales in the U.K.Waters writes:
Video games have been the focus of pretty much all of the coverage of the Byron Review... The reason is simple - when it comes to legislation, only the games industry is being affected.
For the internet, specifically virtual worlds, social networks and video sharing sites Dr Tanya's emphasis is on education and awareness... this is because regulating the net and the morass of user generated content on it is a task no government in its right mind would want to tackle, because it is a geo-political nightmare.
And if you read the official statements and reaction from different quarters of the internet industry all of them are universally applauding the review. Why? Because they know they have been let off the hook, so to speak. There's no legislation, no hint of regulation, no potential fines, no requirements to implement technological change.
Comments
Basically the internet is a massive New York City...
And isn't the point in Byron's report that even 12+ ratings should be enforcable by law? As it is in say, Finland, Canada, and yes, the UK for games that have an 18+ rating on them.
Raising consciousness amongst parents is always a good thing, I find :)
Regulating games is one thing, regulating the internet on the other hand is another. As far as the internet is concerned, it NEEDS it's freedom to actually work.
(although you have to make sure ireland doesnt nuke turkey[superpower joke])
He nailed it right on the head. Video games are easy to regulate, because you can regulate the stores, distributors, and manufacturers. There's a physical item that is passed across a counter-top.
Not so with internet information. How do you regulate a website that may not even be in the UK? Pull a "Great Firewall of China"?
It does. His point is that lawmakers will focus on the medium that is easier to regulate (read: games).
You're talking about England. They've tried the "take over the world" thing.. with lots flags, just ask Eddie Izzard. If you say that any louder, they may be willing to try again, after they make some more flags.
As for the internet getting away with it. They have, and his statements are too true. Couldn't agree more, it's something that most governments would not even attempt to regulate, due to the complex and open environment. There is no universal Point of Sale or vertex btwn content and user that a government can easily police... short of disconnecting from the entire grid.
Why?
Why?
Why?
I bet thats the question what every Brit gamer is asking. Videogames do not harm anyone you Brit politician retards.
Your people are in more debt than the US and you want to restrain one of your country's biggest money makers?
For shame...who the hell is authorized the Byron Report anyhow??
Gift.
I hate it here.
That's right: there's no censorship.
Just wait until the day comes that more games are distributed via downloads rather than shipped to stores in DVD cases.
Byron's report takes it without question that (many) parents are pretty helpless and need the government to 'empower' them, to the point that she considers it a problem that information on consoles' parental controls may be ‘concealed in a cumbersome manual’ (para. 7.101); faced with the complications of the Internet, it's no wonder she concludes that all the government can do is try to exert some pressure on 'popular' sites and encourage parents to pay some basic attention.
Can't all of the problems she points out be fought with an information campaign?
It's just like that post Mass Effect rating bombing that book got on Amazon. While chain stores and malls are the domain of the last generation of old farts without computers, the net is ours.
Don't f*ck with us. We own the internet.
the only thing is, Newgrounds rates them, NOT the BBFC...
Of course you have never regulate the internet because the internet is NOT commercialized.
Also...
(sings the song from Avenue Q musical)
The Internet is for PORN...
http://goatse.ch