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Review 'to change games ratings' Review 'to change games ratings'
(10 minutes later)
The video game ratings system should be revamped to make it easier for parents and children to understand, a UK government-backed review has said.The video game ratings system should be revamped to make it easier for parents and children to understand, a UK government-backed review has said.
The review was carried out by psychologist Dr Tanya Byron, who has recommended a new rating for games aimed at children aged 12 plus.The review was carried out by psychologist Dr Tanya Byron, who has recommended a new rating for games aimed at children aged 12 plus.
Games currently get a mandatory review by classifiers only if they have "human sexual activity" or "gross violence".Games currently get a mandatory review by classifiers only if they have "human sexual activity" or "gross violence".
Dr Byron has also called for a UK body to oversee children's internet safety.Dr Byron has also called for a UK body to oversee children's internet safety.
Schools secretary Ed Balls told BBC News 24 that the government was going to implement all of the recommendations in full.Schools secretary Ed Balls told BBC News 24 that the government was going to implement all of the recommendations in full.
"It's a ground breaking report," he said."It's a ground breaking report," he said.
He said the government would ensure that websites and hardware manufacturers gave better guidance to parents about safety features and controls. HAVE YOUR SAY A 'new' 12 rating is an irrelevance if the parents don't take responsibility for their offspring in the first place. Neil Smith, Bath Send us your commentsHe said the government would ensure that websites and hardware manufacturers gave better guidance to parents about safety features and controls. HAVE YOUR SAY A 'new' 12 rating is an irrelevance if the parents don't take responsibility for their offspring in the first place. Neil Smith, Bath Send us your comments
Dr Byron said her review had led her to conclude that parents' general lack of confidence and awareness was "leaving children vulnerable to risks within their digital worlds".Dr Byron said her review had led her to conclude that parents' general lack of confidence and awareness was "leaving children vulnerable to risks within their digital worlds".
Her review said that "digital world risks are similar to real world risks but can be enhanced by the anonymity and ubiquity that the online space brings".Her review said that "digital world risks are similar to real world risks but can be enhanced by the anonymity and ubiquity that the online space brings".
Voluntary systemVoluntary system
Each year the industry submits about 100 games for review by the British Board of Film Classification.Each year the industry submits about 100 games for review by the British Board of Film Classification.
Dr Tanya Byron is a well-known psychologistDr Tanya Byron is a well-known psychologist
The introduction of a statutory requirement to classify games for children aged 12 plus will see the workload of the BBFC increase dramatically.The introduction of a statutory requirement to classify games for children aged 12 plus will see the workload of the BBFC increase dramatically.
The games industry also adheres to a voluntary European ratings system called Pegi. It means some games can have two differing ratings from the two bodies.The games industry also adheres to a voluntary European ratings system called Pegi. It means some games can have two differing ratings from the two bodies.
Dr Byron has said games should have just one set of symbols from the BBFC on the front of all boxes which are the same as those for films.Dr Byron has said games should have just one set of symbols from the BBFC on the front of all boxes which are the same as those for films.
Pegi ratings will now appear on the back of boxes.Pegi ratings will now appear on the back of boxes.
Many in the games industry had been hoping the review would favour the Pegi self-regulatory system over the BBFC system.Many in the games industry had been hoping the review would favour the Pegi self-regulatory system over the BBFC system.
"We're very happy with the proposals but feel it could have gone a bit futher," said Keith Ramsdale, of giant games publisher Electronic Arts."We're very happy with the proposals but feel it could have gone a bit futher," said Keith Ramsdale, of giant games publisher Electronic Arts.
"We were very clear, unanimously clear as an industry, that we want a single system and using Pegi as that single system will make that much clearer to the consumer."We were very clear, unanimously clear as an industry, that we want a single system and using Pegi as that single system will make that much clearer to the consumer.
FROM THE DOT.LIFE BLOG You have to feel sorry for the video games industry Darren Waters, technology editor BBC News website Read Darren's thoughts in full "We don't believe it needs to be legislative; we believe it could be self-regulatory, with some very sharp teeth."FROM THE DOT.LIFE BLOG You have to feel sorry for the video games industry Darren Waters, technology editor BBC News website Read Darren's thoughts in full "We don't believe it needs to be legislative; we believe it could be self-regulatory, with some very sharp teeth."
Dr Byron's report has said the online industry needs to take greater responsibility when it comes to policing content posted to websites, such as video sites and social networks.Dr Byron's report has said the online industry needs to take greater responsibility when it comes to policing content posted to websites, such as video sites and social networks.
She has recommended codes of practice for the industry, which should be independently monitored.She has recommended codes of practice for the industry, which should be independently monitored.
The review has also recommended:The review has also recommended:
• The creation of a website for parents where they can find our more information about online safety• The creation of a website for parents where they can find our more information about online safety
• A comprehensive public information and awareness campaign on child internet safety• A comprehensive public information and awareness campaign on child internet safety
• Clear and consistent guidance for industry on how games should be advertised• Clear and consistent guidance for industry on how games should be advertised
• High profile efforts to increase parents understanding of age ratings and improved parental controls• High profile efforts to increase parents understanding of age ratings and improved parental controls
READ THE BYRON REPORT
Safer children in a digital world: The report of the Byron review [616KB] Most computers will open PDF documents automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader Download the reader here
The review's publication follows a report by the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) which says many young people are effectively being "raised online", spending in excess of 20 hours a week using sites such as Bebo, Myspace, Facebook and YouTube.The review's publication follows a report by the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) which says many young people are effectively being "raised online", spending in excess of 20 hours a week using sites such as Bebo, Myspace, Facebook and YouTube.
The IPPR has called on the government to do more to protect young people from inappropriate content.The IPPR has called on the government to do more to protect young people from inappropriate content.
The think tank has called for an annual report produced by regulator Ofcom on the effectiveness of initiatives aimed at tackling harmful internet content.The think tank has called for an annual report produced by regulator Ofcom on the effectiveness of initiatives aimed at tackling harmful internet content.
The IPPR also wants Ofcom to police cross-industry guidelines setting out the limits of what young people can expect when on social networks and how to behave online.The IPPR also wants Ofcom to police cross-industry guidelines setting out the limits of what young people can expect when on social networks and how to behave online.
More than half of all children surveyed by the IPPR reported they had come into contact with online pornography.More than half of all children surveyed by the IPPR reported they had come into contact with online pornography.