Consumer Rights Advocates Address EU Parliament on Game Preservation and Age Verification Laws
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The Stop Killing Games (SKG) consumer rights movement recently addressed the European Parliament regarding video game preservation and access. SKG has also joined a joint statement with other entities to push back against new age verification laws, which have already led to the shutdown of a long-running game in the UK.
Facts First
- The Stop Killing Games (SKG) movement recently spoke at the EU parliament about video game consumer rights.
- SKG has joined a joint statement with other entities to push back against age verification laws.
- The UK's Online Safety Bill led to the shutdown of a 20-year-old browser game, Urban Dead, on March 14th.
- California's Digital Age Assurance Act (AB 1043) requires age assurance checks in operating systems, software distribution, and app stores.
- Platforms like PlayStation and Discord have begun implementing age checks to comply with new laws.
What Happened
The Stop Killing Games (SKG) consumer rights movement recently spoke at the European Parliament regarding video game consumer rights. SKG has also joined a joint statement to push back against new age verification laws. These laws are already having an impact; the UK's Online Safety Bill led to the shutdown of the 20-year-old browser game Urban Dead because its creator found implementing the required safety measures unfeasible.
Why this Matters to You
If you play video games, you may see changes in how you access them. New laws requiring age verification, like California's Digital Age Assurance Act (AB 1043), could lead to more mandatory checks before you can use software or app stores. This may affect your experience on platforms like PlayStation, which began requiring age checks in the UK and Ireland, and Discord, which started introducing age verification for 'sensitive content'. The closure of a game like Urban Dead suggests that smaller, older games might be at risk if compliance with new regulations becomes too costly or complex.
What's Next
The advocacy by SKG and other groups at the EU parliament may lead to further discussions about balancing consumer rights with regulatory goals. More platforms and services are likely to implement age verification measures as laws like California's AB 1043 take effect. The ongoing pushback from consumer rights groups could influence how these laws are shaped or enforced.