EC demands tougher action on violent video games

The European Commission is calling on the games industry to strengthen Europe's game rating system and protect children from violent video games.

The recommendation follows a survey looking into how far each 27 member states implemented the Pan European Game Information (PEGI) system.

It found that although some countries had legislation in place, others did nothing to enforce the age limits on games drawn up by PEGI.

The Commission called on the industry to draw up a voluntary pan-European code of conduct within two years, which would strengthen PEGI and make it “a truly effective pan-European tool.”

PEGI was developed in 2003 by the games industry and the European Union. It rates games as suitable for ages 3+, 7+, 12+, 16+ or 18+. It also uses symbols to highlight content such as sex or violence to help parents decide if a game is appropriate for their children.

In the UK the computer games industry uses PEGI for most video games. Those with material of a sexual nature or which portray violence are also subject to the approval of the British Board of Film Classification, which awards age-related classifications that differ from PEGI.

The Commission survey asked the member states questions surrounding PEGI. This included how they implemented age and content rating systems, how video games were sold in shops, if they made video games bans and their policies around on-line video games. It found that PEGI was being implemented in different ways across the community.

Germany, Malta and Lithuania had specific binding legislation. A further 15 Member States had rules surrounding the sale of video games with harmful content to minors in shops, although the EU said the scope of laws varied between them.

Germany, Ireland, Italy and the UK had also gone one step further by banning certain violent video games. However, Cyprus, Luxembourg, Romania and Slovenia let the side down, and admitted having no system in place.

The Commission said the survey highlighted that “there remained considerable room for improvement as regards the take-up of the system.”

It said it hoped the voluntary code of conduct would help member states to integrate the system "more deeply into national systems and provide funds to raise awareness."

Meglena Kuneva, the EU Consumer Commissioner said: “Our clear message today is that industry and national authorities must go further to ensure that all parents have the power to make the right decisions for themselves and their child."