Tagging: the State Duma proposed to introduce new labeling for video games
New obligations to label content may be introduced for game developers and distributors in Russia - a corresponding bill has been submitted to the State Duma. Gamers are proposed to be warned about the presence of cruelty, violence, foul language, alcohol and drugs in the story. In addition, they want to introduce mandatory registration for players. Izvestia found out details about the bill and its impact on the Russian gaming industry.
What is content labeling
Russians can be shielded from negative content in games as early as 2025. About this in his channel in Telegram wrote the Chairman of the State Duma Vyacheslav Volodin.
"There are appeals: in video games there are many plots containing aggression and violence, propaganda of values alien to us. In January, we plan to make a decision on the protection of citizens, primarily children," he said, offering subscribers to participate in a poll on support for such an initiative.
More than 113.5 thousand Russians took part in the voting. Most of them (71%) took a positive attitude to the idea, 26% - negatively, another 3% said they did not care.
The State Duma explained that the speaker's post was about the bill introduced in December 2024 - it suggests mandatory labeling of content in video games. According to it, developers and distributors of games will be obliged to put on them not only age marking, but also information indicating the presence in the plot of cruelty, violence, foul language, alcohol, drugs and the like.
In addition, gamers themselves will have to undergo verification - through "Gosu Services", with the help of another authentication system controlled by a Russian legal entity, by biometrics or by phone number.
- It will be possible to choose any of them, and, for example, the practice of linking an account to a phone number has already been implemented on all major video game platforms," Anton Gorelkin, deputy chairman of the Duma IT Committee, told Izvestia.
Why content labeling is needed
Today, Russian legislation does not have a clear definition of what destructive information is, Duma deputy Anton Nemkin told Izvestia. It is not classified as prohibited, is not regulated by criminal or administrative law, and therefore is in the "gray" zone.
- At the same time, a large number of appeals and complaints from citizens are received regarding destructive, not prohibited information, because it is the soft power, the influence that they are trying to exert on young people. We are particularly concerned about video games, which distort children's perception of the world. In them, our country is often portrayed as an enemy, and violence becomes the norm," Nemkin said.
According to the deputy, protecting such content in games is important for several reasons. First of all, scenes of aggression or explicit materials can have a negative impact on the psyche, especially on children and teenagers. Constant exposure to such content can lead to the development of anxiety disorders, depression and other psychological problems.
- In addition, content can distort the perception of reality. For example, the propaganda of violence or extremist ideas can affect the worldview of young people, inclining them to antisocial behavior," says the Izvestia interlocutor.
Today, he explains, game developers and distributors clearly observe the requirements for age labeling, but in most cases Russians do not pay it due attention. The new bill proposes to label games in terms of the content they contain.
- It is assumed that the necessary descriptors or QR codes will be applied to the packaging of the physical media. Now we are discussing the parameters and details of this procedure with the representatives of the industry. I think that the requirements in this part will be specified by the second reading, - Anton Gorelkin concludes.
What content labeling will affect
According to experts interviewed by Izvestia, the bill will help create a safer and more controlled gaming environment in Russia, reducing the harmful effects of video games on users. The implementation mechanisms themselves will complement each other: warnings will allow players to make an informed choice, while the introduction of a registration system will limit children's access to games with content unsuitable for them.
- The additional possibility to appeal to independent experts to review the labeling of games should provide a more objective assessment of their potential harm, contributing to the development of the game industry in a constructive direction. The bill is based on the desire to protect citizens from the destructive influence of video games without hindering the development of the industry itself," said Marina Probets, Internet analyst and expert at Gazinformservice.
Alexei Yarovit, head of the APRIORI industry development working group, calls the introduction of voluntary labeling a widespread practice in the world, which helps users to avoid unwanted content and, based on this, to make a decision on whether to buy a game. In Russia, since October 2024, an experiment - voluntary labeling of games - has been underway, involving a group of game industry representatives represented by major developers and associations, including Lesta Games, Astrum Entertainment, 1C Games, VK Play and RuStore.
- At the moment, several hundred games have been labeled, and this is not the final result, as the experiment is in the status of ongoing. It should last six months," says Yarovit.
It is too early to say whether the introduction of labeling will affect the cost of games, adds Vladimir Prokuronov, director of the AII association. But it is clear that developers and publishers will try to do their best so that no legislative innovations will not affect it.
He added that state support is already being provided for games, while AII and APRIORI will draw the attention of partners to the video game industry in the Russian Federation so that the market continues to grow and develop. At the same time, the speaker noted that his association is currently working with the Ministry of Digitization, but in a different format. It is assumed that its results will also be immersed in the draft law.
