Australia Censorship News

The Australian Censorship Board (ACB) has announced new censorship rules about gambling content in video games. The ACB writes:

Over the last decade, video games have increased and so has gambling-like content in these games. This includes:

• In-game purchases with an element of chance, such as paid loot boxes. These are mystery items players can use real money to buy, without knowing what item they will get.

• Simulated gambling including casino-style video games.

Research has found that gambling-like content in video games is linked to problem gambling in real-life, as well as psychological and emotional harm. To address these findings the Australian Government has introduced new classifications for video games containing gambling-like content.

From 22 September 2024, the Australian Government has introduced new classifications to video games that contain gambling like content. These changes are in response to growing community concern for children and research findings that links gambling-like content in video games to problem gambling in real-life, as well as psychological and emotional harm.

The new classifications that will be displayed for video games with gambling-like content are:

• M (Mature, not recommended for children under 15) for computer games containing in-games purchases linked to elements of chance, including paid loot boxes (these are mystery items players can use real money to buy, without knowing what item they will get)

• R 18+ (Restricted to adults 18 years and over) for computer games containing simulated gambling.

The changes will apply to games on computers, gaming consoles, phones and tablets.

The consumer advice for new video games that contain gambling-like content will say:

• Chance-based in-game purchases for video games containing in-game purchases linked to elements of chance, like loot-boxes.

• High-impact simulated gambling for video games containing simulated gambling.

• Gambling themes for video games containing content which may resemble gambling, but does not meet the threshold for simulated gambling.

The new classifications will be applied to new video games. The new classifications will not be applied to existing games, unless they are updated with new content and need to be reclassified.

Australian children could soon be banned from accessing social media platforms such as Instagram and TikTok, with the federal  government set to bring in new censorship legislation before the end of the year.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed that his government would introduce legislation to enforce a minimum age for access to social media. He said:

We are taking this action because enough is enough. Parents are worried sick about this. The safety and mental and physical health of our young people is paramount. Legislation will be introduced before the end of the year after a trial of age verification.

Albanese said he wanted to see kids off their devices and onto the footy fields, swimming pools and tennis courts.

South Australia has already proposed banning children under 13 and a parental consent required for children between the ages of 14 and 15.

The federal government has not specified a minimum age for its national framework. The Prime Minister said there would be an age verification trial over the next couple of months.