EU Investigates Unified Violent Game Restrictions

According to a new report, the European Union is looking into unified restrictions on sales of violent games to minors to ensure a minimum set of standards across all countries. The news follows two-day talks between EU Justice and Home Affairs Commissioner Franco Frattini and German Interior Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble and Justice Minister Brigitte Zypries, who were said, according to an Associated Press report, to have encouraged EU member states to "prevent, to ban violent video games," with Frattini adding, "The protection of children cannot have borders." Germany has led the call for the unified act, with Britain, Greece, Finland, Spain and France currently supporting the calls. According to the report, Frattini has called for the EU to adopt a Europe-wide standardized labelling system with age restrictions and warnings, though it appears that individual countries could set their own independent ratings and measures. In the meantime, Frattini has asked EU ministers to call for developers and retailers to voluntarily regulate sales of violent games to minors in anticipation of a more organized debate with the industry to further investigate the issue. Said Frattini at the end of the summit, "A certain degree of linkage between the growing violence among the younger generation and the growing diffusion of violent games exists. Meanwhile, Germany itself has proposed new legislation to ban certain violent games within its own borders, according to an IDG News Service report, including Counter Strike, Scarface: The World Is Yours, and titles from Star Trek and Lord of the Rings franchises.