Gaming
The Entertainment and Leisure Software Publishers Association (ELSPA) has accused the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) of downgrading 22 titles which had already received an adult rating from Pan European Game Information (PEGI).
The accusation came to light after ELSPA released details of the key findings of the government's Byron Review consultancy period.
"The BBFCs downgrading of games opens up the potential of unnecessary risk for UK children and teenagers when playing games against other non-UK players online," said ELSPA.
The BBFC responded that its classification system takes cultural factors into account, which the PEGI system overlooks.
"We're British, and I do think it's important even in an online game world to be able to take account of British sensibilities and we consult the public very widely when we revise out guidelines," said BBFC director David Cooke.
"We attached great weight to tone and context, which is virtually impossible to do with a pan-national system."
The accusation came to light after ELSPA released details of the key findings of the government's Byron Review consultancy period.
"The BBFCs downgrading of games opens up the potential of unnecessary risk for UK children and teenagers when playing games against other non-UK players online," said ELSPA.
The BBFC responded that its classification system takes cultural factors into account, which the PEGI system overlooks.
"We're British, and I do think it's important even in an online game world to be able to take account of British sensibilities and we consult the public very widely when we revise out guidelines," said BBFC director David Cooke.
"We attached great weight to tone and context, which is virtually impossible to do with a pan-national system."
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