British newspaper The Guardian reports, “UK Ministers plan a proposal for a legally enforceable cinema-style classification system for video games in an effort to keep children from playing damaging games unsuitable for their age. Under the proposals, it would be illegal for shops to sell classified games to a child below the recommended age”.
Currently only video games with sex or extreme violence require a movie style rating and classification by the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC). Although all other video and computer games sold in the UK use the non-enforceable and voluntary European PEGI ratings.
The Guardian further repoarts that “British Ministers are expected to advise parents to keep computers and games consoles away from children’s bedrooms as much as possible, and ask them to play games in living rooms or kitchens facing outward so Parents and Caregiver can see what is being played”. Ministers also plan for PIN and/or Password secured Internet filters to be provided by local Internet Service Providers (ISP).
Attempts to prohibit and criminalize the sale of violent video games to children in the US have failed (thus far) due to the First Amendment to the United States Constitution.