Online loophole puts brutal video games into the hands of children
BRITAIN’S video games watchdog has failed to ban a single violent game as campaigners warn that laws are not keeping up with advances in technology. Children’s charities and relatives of those killed by murderers thought to be acting out violent scenes from games are calling for an urgent review of rules meant to prevent young people obtaining the most gratuitously brutal games over the internet.
The Video Standards Council (VSC) was accused by peers earlier this week of “not doing its job” after it emerged that it had not banned any violent games since it became the industry watchdog in 2012.
The VSC, which classifies suitable age groups for games, admits that the Eighties legislation it is meant to uphold “could not foresee the arrival of the online world”. Consequently, the legislation and age classification system only applies to “physical or boxed products” sold over the counter. It is largely powerless to stop foreign websites selling downloads or streaming brutal games to children who have access to a credit card or online payment system.
Last night, Lorin Lafave, the mother of Breck Bednar, 14, who was murdered in Surrey after being targeted by his killer while playing online games, said: “Breck’s killer seemed to blur the lines of death being real and permanent, just like in violent games, and so didn’t value life. Age ratings must be adhered to whether a hard copy or streamed version is purchased. We must insist that government and industry make efforts to achieve this very important goal for the safety of all.”
Lord Laming, who led investigations into the deaths of Victoria Climbie and Baby P, said the internet loophole was putting children at risk. “Technology is moving ahead of our laws and procedures which is leaving young people particularly vulnerable.”
When The Daily Telegraph signed up to the website Steam, which has millions of visitors downloading games each day, it found a page featuring a video posted of a male showing off his “skills” with a butterfly knife. The knife was made after fans of Counter-strike:
Global Offensive asked an American firm to manufacture one similar to that used by the game’s character who goes on a “killing spree”.
The Department for Culture Media and Sport said: “As part of our internet safety strategy, the Government is working with industry and the VSC to improve online safety in games, which includes online purchases of agerestricted video games by children.”