Tim Almond

I’ve just read the Executive Summary of the Byron Report into video gaming and the internet (you can read the summary or full report here) and I have to say that it’s not too bad.

There’s plenty in the Executive Summary to make me think that this is someone who is approaching the subject with an open mind and looking for rational answers. The author correctly points out that whilst there is a correlation between video gaming and violence, there is no direct evidence of a causal link.

Of the recommendations, I’m less happy.

On the good side, there’s the recommendation of more information to parents on how to manage internet use for children. And this, is a large, good suggestion, and one of the best things.

I’m not happy with the idea of all retailers of home systems having to bundle “kitemarked parental control software”. For one thing, there are people who don’t have children, but also there are many other routes beyond installing software (such as content filtering on routers - which is far more sensible). Also, “kitemarked” would imply that it went through British Standards, and I’m not sure how responsive this would be to an ever-changing internet. I think that this is all better managed by information, rather than forced bundling.

I don’t like the idea of the “hyrid classification”, having 2 rating systems on each game (PEGI and BBFC). The BBFC already have far too much power and have historically abused it based on political climate or the views of the Chairman (eg nunchuckas).

Making rules about “every search engine have a clear link to child safety information and safe search settings on the front page of their website” sounds simple, but I’m not sure whether it would be fruitless. Yahoo and MSN have quite cluttered sites which are loaded with content and adverts, and having to put a clear link to child safety information on, means sacrificing space on the page. Would they comply? I suspect that MSN and Yahoo’s servers are in the USA (even for .co.uk), and that means that they don’t have to comply with it anyway. There’s also the question of Firefox and Microsoft search bars, and Adsense for Search programmes. Would someone putting a search bar on their web page have to then put a link to child safety information on their page.

I’m generally in favour with the report’s findings, but I think that the recommendations need a little more work.

Tags: Politics, Gaming //