The German System for Protection of Minors in the Area of Video and Computer Games

Reacting to the current relevance of the topic and in the course of the evaluation of the system for the Protection of Minors from Harmful Media (JMStV and JuSchG), the Hans Bredow Institute had brought forward the analytical procedures it intended in the area of screen-based games and has widened the scope of the investigation. The corresponding report was submitted at the end of June 2007.

The investigation proceeded via four steps: analysis of the framework for the protection of minors in the area of video and computer games, (2) analysis of adequacy and compliance, (3) Depiction of the general framework according to constitutional law, (4) analysis of deficits, analysis of suggestions for reform and development of options for action for optimising the protection of minors in the case of video and computer games.

On the basis of the existing results, the deficits established in the protection of minors in the case of video and computer games and their possible causes were collated.

Following on from that, options for action were developed, which could be considered in the case of legal or factual deficits, or of those related to execution, in achieving effective protection for minors.