German Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann said that violent video games fall into such trash as child pornography and illegal drugs.
Here’s an excerpt from the news:
In a press release kindly translated by GamePolitics, Herrmann described children who are “getting mired in this virtual world violence,” and who have “no time left for school or job training, and are lost to our society.” All relatively common, but he goes a bit further with his next statement.
“In regards to their harmful effects, [violent video games] are on the same level as child pornography and illegal drugs, the ban on which rightly is unquestioned,” Hermann wrote.
The statement has provoked protests, with Commissioner for the New Media Thomas Jarzombek replying, “Anyone making such statements is unqualified to participate in any further debate [regarding the] protection of minors from harmful media.” German game associations like G.A.M.E and the ESB have also called for apologies.
Via 1UP
