Members of the European Union want to regulate the video game market. The main objective is to preserve the mental health of children, threatened by certain abuses.
The European Parliament has made public the conclusions of a report, adopted with 577 votes for, 56 votes against and 15 abstentions. Its objective is to encourage the growth of the video game sector while protecting players, especially the youngest, from abusive practices.
EU stands up against addiction and microtransactions
The report asks the harmonization of the rules in order to allow parents to have a good overview and control of the games their children play “. To do this, the MEPs evoke the establishment of clearer communication from publishers, or even merchants, on the content of the games, the purchasing policies and the age group targeted by the games.
The European Parliament also speaks out against incentives to make purchases in games aimed at minors. According to the institution, the practice of obtaining items in a game for real money […] may be linked to financial crime and human rights abuses “.
The EU legislature also urges developers not to design titles that could fuel addiction, reminding them that they have an obligation to ” take into account the age, rights and vulnerabilities of children “.
MEPs plead for an inclusive video game without excess
The report of the European Parliament addresses other issues to move video games towards a healthier model. The industry should therefore prioritize data protection, gender balance, player safety and ensure that people with disabilities are not discriminated against.
It should also ensure that canceling subscriptions is as easy as taking them out, and that policies for purchasing, returning and refunding games comply with European rules. ” National authorities must put an end to illegal practices that allow players to trade, sell or bet on video game sites “, believe the parliamentarians.
The rapporteur Adriana Maldonado Lopez highlights “ the positive aspects of this pioneering industry “, but which needs to be regulated in the face of ” social risks » that it engenders. The mental health of young people is set up as a priority by the MEP.
Source : European Parliament
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