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British PM Probes 'Violent Video Games'
by David Jenkins
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September 5, 2007
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New British prime minister Gordon Brown has ruled out any plans for censorship of video games and other violent media, but has promised to again consider banning access to violent video games by teenagers, following similar comments from rival political leader David Cameron.
As reported by British newspaper The Guardian, Brown announced a wide ranging government review on the impact of media violence on children. The article suggests that this could lead to new voluntary controls over excessive violence and sex on television, the Internet and in video games.
Speaking at only his second monthly Downing Street press conference as prime minister, Brown indicated that the review will be conducted by the Department for Children, Schools and Families, as well as the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
“The sources of information for children from a very young age now are the Internet, television, commercial advertising. That is a good thing in so many different ways, but where there is pornographic or violent material, any parent is going to be concerned,” said Brown.
Continuing, he added: "This is not the government telling people what they should do ... this is society reaching a conclusion with all those people involved about what are the legitimate boundaries."
Political commentators have already linked Brown’s comments to those made earlier by Conservative leader David Cameron, who also called for less “extreme, casual and callous violence” in the media – specifically mentioning video games. The issue is likely to enjoy continued prominence in the coming months, in the build-up to a new British general election.
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