Tag Archives: european union

As reported by Techradar, An EU report has claimed that most games aren’t dangerous to children, saying they can instead be beneficial in the development of a number of life-skills.

“Video games can stimulate learning of facts and skills such as strategic thinking, creativity, cooperation and innovative thinking, which are important skills in the information society,” says the study.

“Video games are in most cases not dangerous,” added Dutch MP Toine Manders, the report’s author.

“We heard evidence from experts on computer games and psychologists from France, the US, Germany and the Netherlands and they told us that video games have a positive contribution to make to the education of minors.”

The EU’s executive body has given the European games industry two years to come up with a widely used general code of conduct to protect children from violent images in games.

“Creators have to enjoy freedom of expression but at the same time it’s an industry that impacts society,” EU Information Society Commissioner Viviane Reding told a news conference.

“When children go out to play today they enter the world of joysticks. We are not quite sure where they go and there is real anxiety from parents,” EU Consumer Protection Commissioner Meglena Kuneva added.

ELSPA’s Paul Jackson was on hand to stand up for the PEGI, the currently used European age rating.

“Importantly, it protects children as games move increasingly online and therefore should be adopted by UK regulators. We look forward to discussing this at the forthcoming UK consultation,” he said.

Remember that in the wake of the Byron Report, the British Board of Film Classification will soon be in charge of rating games meant for people aged 12 and over in the UK, and its findings will be enforceable by law. PEGI will only be used for games rated under 12. The UK is the largest games market in Europe.

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