Byron Report Submitted – Parliament Expected to Act ASAP

The results of the Byron Review, which outlines the risks posed to children exposed to potentially harmful or inappropriate material on the internet and in video games was released this morning in the UK. The research for Dr. Tanya Byron’s report titled: Safer Children in a Digital World, is an independent review complied at the request of the Prime Minister. The report’s purpose was to focus on the needs of children and young people and finding a solution that would enable them to surf the internet or be exposed to video games in a safe manner, while at the same time informing parents of content.Ed Balls, the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families and Andy Burnham, the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport are accepting all Dr Byron’s recommendations, and plan to implement what is outlined in her findings immediately.

Ed Balls commented:

“Our aim is to make this the best place in the world for children and young people to grow up. In our Children’s Plan consultations parents have told us the internet is an issue which really worries them and they want help in balancing the risks and the opportunities.I am grateful to Dr Byron for carrying out this review and the recommendations show a convincing analysis of how we can properly manage risk in a fast paced, fast changing new media environment.

I welcome Dr Byron’s focus on a shared culture of responsibility. Keeping children and young people safe from harm must be the priority and responsibility of us all. However, children also need to be able to learn, have new experiences and enjoy their childhoods. So we will help families strike the right balance between keeping children safe and allowing them the freedom they need by taking forward Dr Byron’s recommendations. Children and young people often know more about the latest developments in new technology and video games than adults do. Dr Byron’s recommendations will help parents to recognise risks and judge what is appropriate, such as bringing the 12+ rating on video games in line with film age classification.”

Andy Burnham, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) said:

“As Dr Byron points out, parents of my generation, who grew up in a purely analogue world, face real challenges in understanding the new media world. This is a landmark report, setting out clearly for the first time how we can make sure that children can enjoy the benefits of new technology, while being protected from inappropriate material. There is no question that children can benefit greatly from the digital world, but there are real risks that must be managed.We can all – the Government, parents and the industry – play a part in reducing that risk and Dr Byron has set out a clear plan of action.I am committed to working with the internet and games industries to build on existing safeguards. Specifically, we will consult on a more coherent classification system for video games. We want to empower young people and allow them to enjoy the educational, social and entertainment potential of the digital age.”

In response to Byron’s report in a press release David Cooke, the Director of the BBFC, feels that her independent and expert judgement will allow for games to get a more clear and concise ratings system just like DVDs. This sort of “film style” ratings system would help parents and store owners alike keep adult rated games out of the hands of children, just like movies.

“At the BBFC we provide symbols which are trusted and understood; thorough, independent examination by skilled games players; individually tailored health warnings, and also the full reasoning for the classification covering all the key issues; a cutting edge approach to online film and games content, including independent monitoring. We co-operate closely with the Pan European Games Information Systems (PEGI) and will continue to do so.”

While stating that he believes that the BBFC is more qualified over PEGI to rate the games, this also means that if allowed BBFC will have the power to ban more games. Unlike PEGI, the BBFC has the power to reject films, DVDs and games which have the potential to pose harm. They reject an average of two to three DVDs a year, and will continue to “protect the public” even at the adult level. While Cooke says he respects that adults should be free to choose “except where there are real harm risks, but we do not think it would be right to remove the reserve rejection power and we are pleased that Dr. Byron agrees with this.” The BBFC now plans on rating all games that are aimed at children over 12 years of age.

While it is indeed commendable to keep children safe from adult material in games, movies and the on the Internet, the idea that you are not allowing certain films or games to be rated or basically banned in your country is censorship. Who are they to decide what is or is not appropriate for adults? I foresee a “V for Vendetta” future for our UK brethren eventually – but hopefully we will all be dead for many a year before that happens. Freedom to watch what we wish, play what we wish, and surf what we wish (other than child pornography) is the right of every adult in the free world. Keeping children safe is one thing, but allowing the ban of mature media is completely another. The BBFC needs to concentrate on rating games for the younger generation and not stifle the adults and I sincerely hope I read more into what Cooke was saying than what was actually implied.

Games Industry leaders and everyone else who has a dog in this fight are coming out of the woodwork to comment on the contents of the Byron Review, even Microsoft’s Neil Thompson and Paul Jackson of the ELSPA. Suffice it to say that news of the report will not be dying anytime soon.

You can read the full Byron Review here in PDF format, and read the BBFC response to the report here.

Thanks to: Videogaming247 and GamesIndustry for keeping us up-to-date on these developments.