To: Liz Kendall Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology of the United Kingdom
Don’t take away our freedom to play games when we want
The Government is considering new rules that could add overnight curfews to internet services including online computer games
Included in the Children and School's Wellbeing bill are powers for Ministers to impose restrictions including overnight curfews to internet services including online games. This would mean ID checks for anyone playing video games and restrictions in our own homes as to when and how people play games.
Included in the Children and School's Wellbeing bill are powers for Ministers to impose restrictions including overnight curfews to internet services including online games. This would mean ID checks for anyone playing video games and restrictions in our own homes as to when and how people play games.
If ministers use these powers, it could mean:
- Young people locked out of games like Fortnite, Minecraft, League of Legends or Counter-Strike after set times such as 9pm
- Families losing the ability to decide for themselves how and when to relax together
- Adults being forced to hand over sensitive personal data just to play games
We call on the Government to:
- Rule out curfews on accessing legal online content
- Reject mandatory ID checks for playing online games
- Protect privacy, personal choice, and the freedom to play
Why is this important?
For many of us, gaming is part of everyday life.
We often play games as a family at the weekend or in the school holidays. For some, it’s a way to stay connected with people they don’t get to see in person. Sometimes that's people living in different time zones.
Now imagine sitting down to play in the evening, only for a screen to pop up and say you are locked out because it's past a set time. Or being told you have to upload ID just to access a game you’ve already paid for.
This is about something that would impact ordinary moments in our own homes.
This is about something that would impact ordinary moments in our own homes.
These proposals risk taking away the freedom to decide for ourselves when and how we play, and handing that control to the Government and private ID age check companies instead.
