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.
Publications
Brunn, I.; Dreyer, S. (2008): Jugendschutz für Spiele – ein Spiel für den Jugendschutz? Was die Novellierung des Jugendmedienschutzes dem Bereich der Video- und Computerspiele gebracht hat [The Protection of Minors and Games – A Game for the Protection of Minors? What the Amendment of the Protection of Minors against Harmful Media has achieved]. In: O. Zimmermann, T. Geißler (Eds.), Streitfall Computerspiele: Computerspiele zwischen kultureller Bildung, Kunstfreiheit und Jugendschutz. 2nd Edition, Berlin, pp. 70-73.
Brunn, I.; Dreyer, S. (2007): Jugendschutz für Spiele – ein Spiel für den Jugendschutz? Was die Novellierung des Jugendmedienschutzes dem Bereich der Video- und Computerspiele gebracht hat [The Protection of Minors and Games – A Game for the Protection of Minors? What the Amendment of the Protection of Minors against Harmful Media has achieved]. In: politik und kultur – Zeitung des Deutschen Kulturrates 1/2008, pp. 37-38.
Schulz, W.; Dreyer, S. (2007): Möglichkeiten und Grenzen gesetzlicher Jugendschutzvorgaben. Über das Verhältnis von Recht und Realität im Jugendmedienschutz. Artikel im Dossier “Verbotene Spiele?” der Bundeszentrale für politische Bildung [Possibilities and Limits of Legal Provisions for the Protection of Minors. On the Relationship of Law to Reality in the Protection of Minors against Harmful Media. Article in the Dossier ‘Forbidden Games?’ from the Federal Centre for Civic Education] (available).
Schulz, W.; Dreyer, S. (2007): Verfassungsrecht und Jugendmedienschutz. Staatlicher Schutzauftrag und entgegenstehende Grundrechte. Artikel im Dossier “Verbotene Spiele?” der Bundeszentrale für politische Bildung [Constitutional Law and the Protection of Minors against Harmful Media. Article in the Dossier ‚Forbidden Games?’ from the Federal Centre for Civic Education] (available).
Brunn, I.; Dreier, H.; Dreyer, S.; Hasebrink, U.; Held, T.; Lampert, C.; Schulz, W. (2007): Das deutsche Jugendschutzsystem im Bereich der Video- und Computerspiele [The German System for the Protection of Minors in the Area of Video and Computer Games]. Hamburg (pdf-file).
Events
"More Fun, More Risk? Video- und Computerspiele als Herausforderung für den Jugendschutz" [More Fun, More Risk? Video and Computer Games as Challenge for the Protection of Minors], international interdisciplinary conference in cooperation with the Federal Ministry of Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth and the State Ministries for Youth in Berlin on 16 and 17 October 2008. (further information)
“Jugendschutzgesetz – Verbesserung des gesetzlichen Vollzugs“ [Law on the Protection of Minors- Improvement of Legal Enforcement], round table at the invitation of the Federal Minister for Family Affairs in Berlin on 28 November 2007.
“Digitale Spiele und ihre Plattformen I: PC” [Digital Games and their Platforms I: PC], lecture by H. Dreier in the context of the lecture series “Games – Zukunftsperspektiven interaktiver Medienangebote” [Games –Future Perspectives of Interactive Media Offerings] at the University of Hamburg on 25 April 2007.
“Games – ein kulturelles, gesellschaftliches und ökonomisches Phänomen” [Games – a Cultural, Social and Economic Phenomenon], lecture by U. Hasebrink and H. Dreier to introduce the lecture series, “Games – Zukunftsperspektiven interaktiver Medienangebote” [Games –Future Perspectives of Interactive Media Offerings] at the University of Hamburg on 4 April 2007.
Lectures
"Zum Abhängigkeits- und Suchtpotential von Computerspielen" [On the Addiction Potential of Computer Games], participation of U. Hasebrink in an expert hearing of the federal states Lower Saxony and North Rhine-Westphalia in Hanover on 8 June 2009.
"Labelling Online-Games International: (Best) Practice und Entscheidungspfade" [Labelling Online-Games International: (Best) Practice and Pathways for Decisions], lecture by Stephan Dreyer at the 16th Transatlantic Dialogue - "Labeling for Online-Games in the Web 2.0" in Cologne on 7 November 2008. (presentation available here)
“Computerspiele – Ergebnisse der Analyse des Jugendmedienschutzsystems” [Computer Games – Results of the Analysis of the System for the Protection of Minors against Harmful Media], lecture by W. Schulz at the Medientreffpunkt Mitteldeutschland [Media Meeting Central Germany] in Leipzig on 6 May.
“‘Killer’-Spiele: Wegsehen? Verbieten? Verharmlosen?” [‘Killer’ Games: Ignore? Forbid? Play Down?], participation in podium discussion by S. Dreyer at the symposium of the working group for the protection of minors Hamburg and the North Elbe Evangelical Office for Young People in Hamburg on 7 December 2007.
"Das deutsche Jugendschutzsystem im Bereich der Video- und Computerspiele – Rahmenbedingungen, Umsetzungen und Handlungsoptionen" [The German System for the Protection of Minors in the Area of Video and Computer Games – General Framework, Applications and Options for Action], participation of W. Schulz in the session of the sub-committee on new media of the Bundestag in Berlin on 5 July 2007.
“Games als Gegenstand des Jugendschutzes” [Games as a Subject for the Protection of Minors against Harmful Media], lecture by W. Schulz in the context of the lecture series “Games – Zukunftsperspektiven interaktiver Medienangebote” [Games – Future Perspectives for Interactive Media Offerings] in Hamburg on 4 July 2007.
Contact person
Hans-Bredow-Institut
Heimhuder Straße 21
D - 20148 Hamburg
Tel. +49 (0)40 45 02 17 - 0
Fax +49 (0)40 45 02 17 - 77
Researchers
Funding
Bundesministerium für Familie, Senioren, Frauen und Jugend (BMFSFJ) (Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth.