New York City Council, Committee on Consumer Affairs
Public Hearing on Violent Video Games
Chairperson Philip Reed
Testimony by Claire Regan
Sisters of Charity of New York
My Name is Sr. Claire Regan and I am a Sister of Charity
of New York. We are members of the Interfaith Center on Corporate
Responsibility and I assist in the Violence and Militarization
of Society Working Group. I speak to you today as a religious
investor, especially on the matter of retailers and their
role in the disposition and sale of video games.
I am deeply concerned about the prevalence of violence in
our society and violent images in our media. Children from
an early age are formed by images, often graphic of mortal
combat and sexual activity. Ratings systems exist for television
and movies which have existed for years and which were supported
by broad-based efforts to educate the public as to their use.
In the video/computer games industry we have an industry-based,
voluntary ratings system that does little to reach beyond
the scale of major retailers.
The FTC study in June, 2002 (1) found that retailers allowed
69% of unaccompanied minors aged 13 to 16 to purchase games
rated as Mature by the Entertainment Software Rating Board
(ESRB) As concerned consumers and as government we must do
all that we can to assure retailers do not continue to afford
such easy access to violence for our youth. Though retailers
freely admit to having carding systems, policies, signs, and
labels in place, the key question is how well are these policies
enforced by the company? How completely and regularly are
they audited for policy compliance? The Council's own report
of last December(2) showed that compliance to be abyssymal.
When 34 of 35 underage consumers can purchase materials that
are patently for adult viewing only, I feel we have fallen
short of our moral and societal obligation to protect and
guide the development of our children.
Retailers must be required to properly post their ratings
information and policies. They must be required to separate
for sales purposes, materials rated Mature or Adults Only.
These displays if not locked, should clearly be out of the
reach of younger consumers who often buy these games unescorted
by a parent. Retailers should be required to do their share
to educate the public on the ratings system and to work to
assist the rating system's updating and designs planned for
the 2004 Christmas season.
The City's Consumer Affairs Department must enforce "carding"
systems, which allegedly are in place to prevent illegal sales.
Just as tobacco and alcohol sales age restrictions are required
to be posted and subject to audit, so should the sales of
video games with violent and sexual content be monitored.
How companies market their video games is an important area
for government oversight. Beyond product placement decisions,
questions about pricing, promotion, advertising outlets and
messages require some degree of societal accountability.
It is obvious from sales data (3) that violent games (rated
M) consisted of eight of the top twenty best selling computer
and video games. In our society sex and violence sells. Where
efforts have been made to restrict sex and violence in films
and on television, we likewise must support efforts to restrict
children's access to materials inappropriate for their viewing
in the video and computer games industry.
As a shareholder, I want to hold my company to the highest
standards of moral and ethical performance. Such performance
translates to the bottom line profitability and long term
standing of the company. Investors should reward good corporate
citizenship. I feel most deeply that we owe a moral obligation
to society to hold corporations and governments accountable
to their best performance.
We need to mentor our youth and engender in their development,
a healthy perspective on peace making and alternatives to
violence. This City Council in passing these measures could
go a long way in its role to safeguard the growth of our youth
and the enrichment of our society. I commend you for your
sincerity in these measures, your comprehensive approach and
your detailed analysis of the scope of the problem.
