MEPs adopted on March 12th 2009 a report warning about the growing use of online gaming and mobile devices, which make it difficult to control content entering the minors. To resolve this, the EP suggests including a "red button" on computers and consoles, with the parents to block violent games or control access to video games at certain times. The text also encourages the industry to further develop mechanisms of self-contained.

Video game industry accounted in 2008 for more than 7300 M€, a figure which highlights their growing popularity among various age groups.

Although games do not only have a recreational value, as they can also be used for educational and medical purposes, not all games are suited to all age groups and the possibility of harmful effects on the minds of children cannot be ruled out. That is one of the main ideas which stresses a report by MEP Toine Manders. To help parents choose,  MEPs would like to see more public awareness of the content of video games, parental control options and instruments such as the Pan-European Game Information (PEGI) age rating system. PEGI is part of Commission's efforts to ensure protection of consumers, in particular minors, in respect of the use of video games, as it put forward in a Communication on Apri 2008.
 
Different approaches to strengthening control of video games should be explored, argues the Parliament, but it does not propose specific EU legislation. MEPs believe Member States should ensure their national rating systems do not lead to market fragmentation. Harmonisation of labelling rules would be of help. Member States should also agree on a common system based solely on PEGI.

Protective measures such as those put forward by the report adopted by the Parliament, follow the line marked by the initiatives aimed at ensuring the protection of minors on the Internet and other technologies, such as the new Safer Internet program adopted by the end 2008, which covers period 2009-2013.

A “red button” for safer children video games

MEPs are particularly worried about on-line games, which are easy to download onto a PC or a mobile phone, making parental control harder. Until PEGI on-line is up and running, the report proposes fitting consoles, computers or other game devices with a "red button" to give parents the chance to disable a game or control access at certain times.
 
The presence of violence in video games does not automatically lead to violent behaviour, according to the report, which draws on recent studies.  However, prolonged exposure to scenes of violence can have an adverse effect on the player and even potentially lead to violent behaviour. An amendment adopted by Parliament calls on the Member States to frame specific civil and criminal legislation on the retailing of violent TV, video and computer games and argues that special attention should be devoted to on-line games.
 
Controls on video games need to be tightened up so that children do not have access to inappropriate games. For this reason, and also to prevent the potentially harmful effects of games, especially the danger of addiction or violent behaviour, retailers and parents should take appropriate steps. MEPs back the idea of a code of conduct for retailers and producers of video games.

But above all, internet café owners are singled out and reminded of their responsibilities.  A Eurobarometer survey shows that 3.2% of children aged 6-17 access the internet without adult supervision in internet cafes.