China is Testing a Website to Report Games Breaching Recent Regulations

A new website has reportedly been launched in China that will allow people to report video games or companies that do not comply with the recently deployed restrictions on gaming. According to a report by South China Morning Post (SCMP), the website was set up by the National Press and Publication Administration (NPPA), which is a government body that handles the video game industry and is responsible for the approval of new games that are released in China. The website comes shortly after the Chinese government imposed a new rule that prevents anyone under the age of 18 to play games except on Fridays, weekends, and public holidays.

The Government-run website will be run by the NPPA

The new website serves as a ‘reporting platform for gaming companies implementation of anti-addiction regulations' according to SCMP’s report and it is currently in a trial phase. The NPPA will require a Chinese ID and a mobile phone number to make a report on the website and there are three categories under which incidents can be reported, which include:

• whether an online game is complying with the requirements for real name registrations by all users

• whether an online game has implemented the new time limits for players under 18

• whether an online game has taken steps to prevent teenagers from spending too much on in-game transactions

In addition to the recent playtime restrictions put in place by the Chinese government, there was also a spending cap introduced for games which is set at 200 yuan ($30.93) per month for 8 to 15-year-olds, and 400 yuan ($61.86) for 16 to 18-year-olds.

According to the Wall Street Journal, all players will be required to register with the National Press and Publication Administration’s anti-addiction system with government-issued identification documents in order to access online games.

Some games already have systems in place that automatically boot players after a certain period of time. Facial recognition measures are also in place to ensure that registered players are using the right government credentials.

The SCMP report states that “The rules, some of the strictest in the world and aimed at preventing gaming addiction among minors, are part of a broad effort by the Chinese authorities to align people’s online activities with the state’s future needs.” The news outlet also reports that over 20 companies based in Shanghai were summoned to a meeting with city authorities to urge them to follow the recent guidelines set in place by the Chinese government.