It's taken quite a while, and at least a small amount of pressure for TIGA (The Independent Game Developers’ Association) to respond to recent government pressure on the harms that can be found online. This isn't limited to just video games, but the recent grilling of Electronic Arts and Epic Games by the UK Parliament’s Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DMCS) committee has certainly brought them to the forefront.

　　In this case, the particular harms of loot boxes and other addiction mechanics I mean surprise mechanics (loot boxes), as well as the recent WHO's recognition of Gaming Disorder as a disease has been a part of the awakening of regulatory bodies, and others, towards some of the harms that can undeniably be found in gaming when those with bad practices are left unchecked.

　　It should be noted, however, that this white paper is about far more than just video games, being as a response to the unchecked social media industry. It's just that games fall under its purview.

The Buildup

　　The introduction of a new regulatory framework for online safety.The introduction of an independent regulator who will implement, oversee and enforce the new regulatory framework. This may include the powers to issue fines and impose liability on individual members of senior management.All companies in scope of the regulatory framework will need to be able to show that they are fulfilling their duty of care, doing so by following the new regulator’s codes of practice.The regulator will have the power to require annual transparency reports from companies in scope, outlining the prevalence of harmful content on their platforms and what countermeasures they are taking to address these.Companies may have to implement effective and easy-to-access user complaints functions; responding to complaints within the expected timeframe set out in the regulatory framework.In addition to these points, it was made clear that a statutory duty of care would be established. A large portion of this duty of care is related to the prevention of criminal activities, terrorism and the following of standards set by regulators. There are a few very specific aspects that would directly impact on the video games industry though.

　　One, in particular, would be the direction of users who have suffered harm towards support mechanisms, which I would personally say would force all games featuring loot boxes to direct users towards such as Gamble Aware. Why? Because it's gambling, not Surprise Mechanics.

The Response

　　TIGA has responded, setting out a number of points that they recommend in relation to this White Paper and proposed regulator. These points include, but aren't limited to:

　　the new regulator must clearly specify in the planned codes of conduct what measures companies will need to take in order to demonstrate that they have fulfilled their duty of care to their users;online harms within the scope of the regulation must be properly defined;the introduction of the new statutory duty of care and the new regulator’s codes of practice should be introduced in a proportionate manner, to avoid imposing a disproportionate regulatory burden on the UK’s many small video games businesses;global businesses which are located outside of the UK, but which provide and sell services and tools to UK consumers, should be subject to the new regulatory framework;organisations with the largest resources should fund the regulator and its various activities;the Government and/or the regulator should commission quality third party research to ascertain appropriate time limits for playing games; and,TIGA CEO, Dr Richard Wilson, also had this to say:

　　TIGA supports the Government’s plan to establish a new statutory ‘duty of care’ to make companies take more responsibility for the safety of their users. We also support the intention for an independent regulator to oversee this duty of care, issue codes of practice and to enforce compliance.

　　Social media is the leading source for where online harm takes place in the UK. However, it is important that video game businesses that are within the scope of the regulatory framework fulfil their duty of care and minimise the potential for online harms.

　　I can't help but agree with the argument that the costs of compliance should be minimised, enabling smaller companies with limited funds to operate within the guidelines. I also fully support that the regulator, if created, should also be reasonable in the guidelines it sets down.

　　It's also very visible that, despite agreeing that a duty of care does have to be in place, the call is for the government to pay for the games companies to do the job they should already do, with the request of "Tax Relief to enable them to invest in effective safety technologies". Nor do I like the idea that the largest companies should fund the regulator, the regulator should be independent and non-reliant on the funding of the companies it would fine, should they get out of hand.

　　As I've mentioned them in this piece, I can't help but notice the lack of any reference towards transactions or loot boxes in the response by TIGA, despite it being covered (to an extent) in the White Paper, including the concern of "the pressures of children to spend money".

　　What remains to be seen is how the UK government will respond to the growing issues over online safety as well as, in the case of the games industry, predatory actions by companies such as Electronic Arts, Take-Two, Activision-Blizzard and others. Personally, I would hope for a moratorium of all real-money loot boxes while they are studied further, if not an outright ban. Also, companies should certainly be more hands-on with the protection of their audience from online abuses. It's a simple, undeniable fact that people, not just children, are victims of bullying, grooming and other predatory aspects and there should be protections in place.