Second UK Inquiry Into Video Games Planned

A second investigation into the effects of video games content has been announced by the UK government, following the already commenced “Byron Review”. The new inquiry though will not focus solely on children but the effects on all ages of consumers. According to a press release from the Culture, Media and Sport Committee the inquiry will examine the “potential risks from harmful material on the Internet and in video games”. Subjects of specific interest including “cyber bullying”; user generated content, including content that glorifies guns and gang violence; the availability of personal information on social networking sites; content that incites racial hatred, extremism or terrorism; and content that exhibits extreme pornography or violence. Although the majority of these topics are more closely associated with Internet content than video games, the Committee has called for submissions from all interested parties, to be received by January 30th 2008. The Committee will accept as submissions (or as part of submissions) responses to the Byron Review, although insists that its inquiry will be broader in scope. Details of how to send a submission are available at the government website.