Proposals to ban computer games in Russia published online

A package of proposals from regional authorities on regulating the video game market in Russia was leaked online, dated November 2022. The Telegram channel reported this, via the Telegram channel “Sad Cyberpunk.”

The 98-page document, prepared by the Information Policy Commission of the Council of Legislators, contains the regions’ recommendations for countering the negative influence of computer games on children.

“Exposure of children to an atmosphere of virtual violence teaches them to perceive aggression as a normal way of life. The existing computer games exacerbate the problem of the blurring of the line between the virtual world and objective reality, which makes it harder for children and adolescents to perceive images and events in the world around them,” — the legislators note.

Among their main ideas are:

• introducing a curfew for under-18 gamers from 22:00 to 08:00;
• allowing children to access games only through authentication, including via facial recognition systems;
• a ban on advertising games to minors;
• holding events to explain the destructive consequences of gaming;
• introduction of new forms of administrative responsibility for owners of “computer salons”.

In particular, Belgorod Oblast proposes punishing owners for allowing minors to be present after 22:00 and for giving them access to games labeled “18+.” The region also advocates banning “the circulation of computer games with elements of suicide-themed content, horror, LGBT, school shootings, childfree and discrimination against the Russian Armed Forces.”

Smolensk Oblast called for the creation of youth “cyber squads”, Dagestan for “cyber schools”.

Astrakhan Oblast pointed to the lack of a unified procedure for evaluating board, computer and other games.

In addition, the commission members proposed creating a registry of banned games, mandating parental-control systems on computers, and requiring developers to provide access to games “through Russian identification and authentication systems.”

At present, the provisions are of a recommendatory nature and are directed to the Cabinet and the General Prosecutor’s Office for consideration, according to Vedomosti.

Last week, the Energy Committee of the State Council sent to the Government of the Russian Federation a recommendation for a complete ban on mining in residential buildings to prevent fires.