Photo ID Required To Buy/Rent Games In Canada

securitas writes "Metro International newspapers Toronto edition reports that Canadian gamers must now provide photo identification to buy computer and video games. The restriction is part of the Retail Council of Canada's Commitment to Parents initiative, in cooperation with the Entertainment Software Association of Canada (ESAC) and the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB). The RCC says that it has the support of 90% of game retailers in the voluntary program. Read the RCC video game photo ID press release. There don't seem to be any guidelines for how the program will be implemented - whether it will be a simple flash of a photo ID card (which many teenagers don't have) or a more detailed user database, with its inherent privacy concerns. The Ontario government plans to come up with its own game ratings system after the Ontario Film Review Board gave Manhunt an 'R' rating. More coverage at the CBC and CTV before and after the official announcement."

Comments

Re:Do parents reallyt want this?

[Gentlewhisper]

Big brother's grip widens.. now they will be able to track what our kids use too!

Soon they will embed subliminal messages into games telling them it is good to snitch on their parents and be a PATRIOT.

Before you know it, everyone is a thoughtcriminal. Oh wait.

Bad idea, because...

[TiggertheMad]

The ratings on games are self-imposed. By requiring a store to enforce those ratings, a game company now has a reason to rate every game they make with a 'G' rating (or whatever the lowest category is), regardless of the actual content. Or even, not rate it at all.

Don't pass stupid useless legislation, Canada. That's Bush's job. You're supposed to be the smart member of the family...