AfterDawn: News

China cracking down on online gaming, blames games for murder

China Central Television (CCTV) released a program this week called "Confession of a Murderer -- Focus on Pornography and Violence in Online Games," which for the most part blames murder, drug addiction and even teen pregnancy on violent online video games.

The report goes as far as to say that up to 80 percent of the violent criminals in a particular prison were there because of crimes committed in part because of their addictions to online games.



Other recent reports from the CCTV have blamed social-networking sites and video games for lower test grades.

Chinese authorities have been cracking down on online gaming for months now, as well as pornography. The fight hit a boiling point when World of Warcraft was taken down for three months when the developer and the government could not come to an agreement.

As for the drug addiction aspect, the CCTV showed a program in which many teenagers became addicted to cough medicine and other harder drugs such as meth, as a way to keep up their energy to play online games all night, sometimes for 48 hours at a time.

Chinese authorities say about 210 million citizens play online video games regularly.

Written by: Andre Yoskowitz @ 26 Dec 2009 20:42

• Previous article

• Mobile Firefox coming within 'days'

• Next article

• Prisoner gets 18 months for hacking prison computer

• 21 comments

• ivymike

  Isn't this the pot calling the kettle black?

  26.12.2009 22:09 #1

• kfir1

  Why is this a news? china is populated with slaves. These people are SLAVES and they LOVE to be SLAVES. They can't even bleed a little for FREEDOM.
  
  So please no more chinese news. Leave them alone and their government to oppress its own citizens.

  27.12.2009 01:49 #2

• Deadrum33

  No wonder I haven't been able to register my authentication key for Tienanmen Square Massacre 1989 on my Win7 box.

  27.12.2009 03:29 #3

• Tristan_2

  With hardly any news of this short of thing you would think this would't happen. BUT the process of Blaming games for everything appears not to be over no it takes it to a new level which I have to once again hate to give Jack Thompson kudos for. Unlike him and other people in his field NONE OF THEM I AM SURE EVER SAID TEEN PREGNANCY IS BLAMED ON GAMING. I think it could be safe to say that people in Thompson's field will be angry to see this, I am sure they even know not EVERYTHING is caused by this so called Gaming Addiction although I do agree some people can't stop playing WoW but can it be a Addiction? But we can all agree on that the Chinese Government has taken this to a new low

  27.12.2009 03:58 #4

• KSib

  Can we just get some scientific studies that says video games do not cause (pick one or all) murder, rape, violence, or prostitution. It can cause periods of fun, frustration, controller throwing, jumping up and down, shouting, cursing, sweating, and being anti-social.
  
  I'm sure there are some, but theories are just theories. Whomp.

  27.12.2009 06:50 #5

• beanos66

  and has absoloutly nothing to do with authoritarianism, corruption and complete lack of human rights

  27.12.2009 06:54 #6

• creaky

  Originally posted by beanos66: and has absoloutly nothing to do with authoritarianism, corruption and complete lack of human rights China are obviously just using these things as an excuse to further crack down on peoples' freedoms. The UK (among others) are very keen on this too, i have a link somewhere. It seems it's the same few countries playing follow the leader on these kind of things all the tie, i keep saying Australia and New Zealand proposing the same ridiculous freedom-restricting ideas, the US too. Here's an example link ~
  
  UK House of Lords Follow China and Australia, Propose Internet Censorship Bill Quote:As China, Iran, and Australia initiate draconian efforts to shut down the internet as an alternative news source, the House of Lords in the United Kingdom is mulling a similar attempt to block dissenting voices. The so-called Digital Economy Bill, essentially ignored by the media, would allow the Secretary of State to “a technical obligation on internet service providers” at the whim of the government.
  
  Francis Davey, who offers legal advice to technology and media firms in computer and internet law, notes on his blog that a provision under consideration by the House of Lords — specifically clause 11 of the proposed legislation — would provide the means to block “undesirable” web pages such as WikiLeaks and other whistle-blower sites. The clause would also allow the government to block peer-to-peer networks.The US and the UK (and Australia and New Zealand) all love the idea of communism and always seem to be finding ways to bring it in here
  

  
  
  Main PC ~ Intel C2Q Q6600 (G0 Stepping)/Gigabyte GA-EP45-DS3/2GB Crucial Ballistix PC2-8500/Zalman CNPS9700/Antec 900/Corsair HX 620W
  Network ~ DD-WRT ~ 2node WDS/WPA ~ Buffalo WHR-G54S. 4node WPA2/AES ~ WRT54GS v6 (inc. WEP BSSID), WRT54G v2, WRT54G v3.1, WRT54G2 v1, WRT54G v5. *** Forum Rules ***

  27.12.2009 08:52 #7

• Amak

  Quote:Originally posted by beanos66: and has absoloutly nothing to do with authoritarianism, corruption and complete lack of human rights China are obviously just using these things as an excuse to further crack down on peoples' freedoms. The UK (among others) are very keen on this too, i have a link somewhere. It seems it's the same few countries playing follow the leader on these kind of things all the tie, i keep saying Australia and New Zealand proposing the same ridiculous freedom-restricting ideas, the US too. Here's an example link ~
  
  UK House of Lords Follow China and Australia, Propose Internet Censorship Bill Quote:As China, Iran, and Australia initiate draconian efforts to shut down the internet as an alternative news source, the House of Lords in the United Kingdom is mulling a similar attempt to block dissenting voices. The so-called Digital Economy Bill, essentially ignored by the media, would allow the Secretary of State to “a technical obligation on internet service providers” at the whim of the government.
  
  Francis Davey, who offers legal advice to technology and media firms in computer and internet law, notes on his blog that a provision under consideration by the House of Lords — specifically clause 11 of the proposed legislation — would provide the means to block “undesirable” web pages such as WikiLeaks and other whistle-blower sites. The clause would also allow the government to block peer-to-peer networks.The US and the UK (and Australia and New Zealand) all love the idea of communism and always seem to be finding ways to bring it in here
  Communism isn't socialism...

  27.12.2009 09:00 #8

• creaky

  Communism, Socialism, whatever, pick an 'ism'. The point is that some leaders from some of us 'free' countries love the idea of restricting the populous from doing virtually anything and want to see such systems here.
  

  
  
  Main PC ~ Intel C2Q Q6600 (G0 Stepping)/Gigabyte GA-EP45-DS3/2GB Crucial Ballistix PC2-8500/Zalman CNPS9700/Antec 900/Corsair HX 620W
  Network ~ DD-WRT ~ 2node WDS/WPA ~ Buffalo WHR-G54S. 4node WPA2/AES ~ WRT54GS v6 (inc. WEP BSSID), WRT54G v2, WRT54G v3.1, WRT54G2 v1, WRT54G v5. *** Forum Rules ***

  27.12.2009 09:14 #9

• xboxdvl2

  blaming videogames on teen pregnancy is low.when im playing videogames the last thing i think about is sex(unless its tomb raider).the chinese government are just looking for something to blame.
  

  PS2 with 12 games.

  27.12.2009 09:33 #10

• IPRFenix

  Quote:China Central Television (CCTV) released a program this week called "Confession of a Murderer -- Focus on Pornography and Violence in Online Games," which for the most part blames murder, drug addiction and even teen pregnancy on violent online video games.
  Notice how they say online games, rather than just games.
  This is the funny thing though. Online games are ridiculously tame in ALL of these aspects. There is little to no sexual content or drug use in online games, and any violence is generally pretty mild. The violence is typical hack and slash, or shoot em up war game, usually with very little blood/gore or none at all.
  
  Almost all of the games containing any generous, or overly gratuitous amount of these aspects, are single player (only) games. I'm guessing that what they REALLY fear is most likely the fact that online gaming gives them an outlet in which they can communicate with the outside world. They can censor and restrict website access, but they can't (or it isn't as easy..) censor or restrict what people from other countries say or do in an online game. Or even, what their own people say or do in an online game.
  
  And, consuming cough medicine to give them energy to play all night? Does that actually do what they are implying, act as an energy boost? I've NEVER heard of that one before. It sounds rediculous.

  27.12.2009 13:54 #11

• mike.m

  If your going to get pregnant as a teen, do drugs, or kill, then there is something wrong with YOU, not the games. Would you jump off a building just because it was in a video game? Didn't think so China.

  27.12.2009 15:07 #12

• kiwi1

  Creaky, I disagree about your views on NZ, you wont find any communism here. NZ is rife with privatization and capitalists even after 3 terms under labour/greens. Currently under a National government.
  
  Elections here are at the mercy of public opinion and political parties must tip toe around us to survive.
  
  Aus has been hit hard with censorship, we have none of that crap here. They will try though.

  27.12.2009 19:43 #13

• DXR88

  Originally posted by creaky: Communism, Socialism, whatever, pick an 'ism'. The point is that some leaders from some of us 'free' countries love the idea of restricting the populous from doing virtually anything and want to see such systems here.your right, however its a slow process little by little something is taken away from us. the sad part is most don't even know it, until its happened or to late.
  
  one day there will be a WW3 and the USA will be the one under attack. i can feel it.

  28.12.2009 15:45 #14

• LissenUp

  I think the chinks are getting stupider as their population grows exponentially and out of control.
  
  "Focus on Pornography and Violence in Online Games," which for the most part blames murder, drug addiction and even teen pregnancy on violent online video games."
  
  Yeah........after playing Grand Theft Autos, Fallout 3 and Leisure Suit Larry.......like most video game players (adult or teen),I had this overwhelming urge to kill a drug dealer, snort his coke and knock up his bitches..........and then go out and kill more people, snort, smoke, shoot-up more drugs and then get more girls pregnant..........yeah..........yeah............that's how the mind works, that's what I do......just like most others. NOT!
  
  Maybe the chinks need to take a closer look at their quality of civilization if these main 3 facets are such an issue. START BANNING PREGNANCY. 1.3 billion is not a "lot of people" it's a GD problem when your country is significantly smaller than the U.S. and your population makes up for OVER 1/6 of the plante's population. I'd be pissed off and committing crimes if I was always butted up against people and shoulder to shoulder day in day out.

  28.12.2009 17:58 #15

• KillerBug

  Quote:Originally posted by creaky: Communism, Socialism, whatever, pick an 'ism'. The point is that some leaders from some of us 'free' countries love the idea of restricting the populous from doing virtually anything and want to see such systems here.your right, however its a slow process little by little something is taken away from us. the sad part is most don't even know it, until its happened or to late.
  
  one day there will be a WW3 and the USA will be the one under attack. i can feel it."Pick an Ism"? How about capitalism? Just because it ends in "ism" that does not make it a bad thing, does it? Socialism is an important part of any functioning society, the problem is that people can't tell the difference between Marxism, Leninism, Stalinism, Fascism, and communism.
  
  If you think that chinese communism is socialism, then you are very uninformed. Chinese communism is capitalism with Faschism. While I am not the biggest fan of capitalism, the Faschism is the big issue here...and the true message of this story. China has censored the internet frequently, to the point that most chinese internet users are forced to use foreign proxy servers to get any real news...now they have begun a movement to block online gaming because it is a potential form of communication with the "free" world.

  29.12.2009 00:26 #16

• LissenUp

  "Ism" just means the "act of".
  
  Stupidism, lameism, Bushism, pimpism..........look, making words up that actually make sense is fun.

  29.12.2009 12:22 #17

• chrialex

  Uh, yeah, what all of you said, plus the fact that if online games cause all that, you will get off in court because you obviously had a bad childhood. In other words, WTF is up with the parents if this is such a big problem? Is the Chinese government saying that their citizens don't know how to raise their kids?
  

  Do what you can while its still questionably Legal, before it becomes UNQuestionably ILLegal.
  chrialex

  7.1.2010 10:13 #18

• DXR88

  Originally posted by chrialex: Uh, yeah, what all of you said, plus the fact that if online games cause all that, you will get off in court because you obviously had a bad childhood. In other words, WTF is up with the parents if this is such a big problem? Is the Chinese government saying that their citizens don't know how to raise their kids?
  No more than the US Government Does. don't spank your own kid its against the law.

  7.1.2010 16:30 #19

• chrialex

  That is different, here in the US they say you can't do this or that to your kids, then wonder why they turn out to be inconsiderate worthless pr!cks. But with this they are saying that everything wrong with their kids over there is because of online games/porn/etc.

  7.1.2010 20:53 #20

• DXR88

  Originally posted by chrialex: That is different, here in the US they say you can't do this or that to your kids, then wonder why they turn out to be inconsiderate worthless pr!cks. But with this they are saying that everything wrong with their kids over there is because of online games/porn/etc.They'll Find out soon enough, it will be the Opposite Effect.

  8.1.2010 05:37 #21