MP named the features of the new bill on the regulation of the gaming industry

Deputies are preparing a new bill that would require games to be labeled in terms of the content they contain. It is expected to be submitted to the State Duma in January. Deputy Anton Nemkin told Izvestia on January 10 about the need to regulate the gaming industry, the specifics of the project and the fact that the innovations will affect not only minors, but also adult Russians.

"The new draft law stipulates the requirement to label games in terms of the content they contain - for example, a video game containing images or descriptions of cruelty, physical and (or) mental violence, and (or) a video game containing profanity. The current regulation is aimed exclusively at children, and the above-mentioned labeling by type of content will also apply to adults, among whom there are also sensitive categories of citizens, such as the elderly," he explained.

It is also proposed to inform users that a video game contains images or descriptions of the use of alcoholic and alcohol-containing products, tobacco and nicotine-containing products, and narcotic drugs.

"Protecting citizens from destructive content in video games is important for several reasons. First and foremost, destructive content such as scenes of violence, aggression or explicit material can negatively affect the psyche of citizens, especially children and adolescents. Constant exposure to such content can lead to the development of anxiety disorders, depression and other psychological problems," Nemkin said.

In addition, he said, destructive content can distort the perception of reality and form a negative worldview. At the same time, control and restriction of access to such content contribute to the creation of a healthier information environment, the deputy believes.

On the eve of the Chairman of the State Duma Vyacheslav Volodin in his Telegram-channel said that the lower house of Parliament may decide to protect minors from destructive content. He added that the State Duma has received appeals that many modern video games contain aggression, violence and "propaganda of alien values".