Wednesday, April 23, 2008

Video Games: European Commission calls on retailers to stop selling violent video games to children.

In the wake of a recent shooting spree in which a Finnish school student killed eight people and then himself, the European Commission on Tuesday called on retailers to stop selling violent video games to children.

EU Information Society and Media Commissioner Viviane Reding demanded a code of conduct within two years on sales of video games to minors.
Reding also urged governments to comply with the industry age-rating system known as Pan European Game Information.

"Creators have to enjoy freedom of expression but at the same time it's an industry that impacts society," Reding said at a news conference.

‘Parents should be allowed to take the right decision for their children and themselves’, the European Commission for Consumers Meglena Kuneva commented.

Public concerns that video games can cause aggressive behaviour have been heightened by school shootings such as that in Finland last November, and have led to several countries banning games such as "Manhunt 2," Reding added.

Republished with permission FOCUS News Agency