Aussie censor wants power to ban iPhone apps
Apple won't like this one
The Australian censorship board wants to extend its tentacles into classifying mobile games and iPhone applications.
Aussie censors are already an enthusiastic lot, but trying to wrest control of iPhone applications from Apple's iron grip might prove a step too far.
Classification Board director Donald McDonald told a Senate Estimates committee he was concerned that some mobile phone apps were not asking for approval, according to IT News. He said: "I recently wrote to the minister regarding my concern that some so-called mobile phone applications, which can be purchased online or either downloaded to mobile phones or played online via mobile phone access, are not being submitted to the board for classification."
But the censors might struggle to keep up with the tens of thousands of iPhone applications. It might also need to change its charging structure - it can cost over A$2,000 to apply for a certificate, a big charge for a small, start-up developer.
The Classification Review Board offers a second opinion if distributors disagree with the original grading given for their for product. It recently refused a classification for the game Left 4 Dead 2 on grounds that there was not enough delineation between general zombies and people and "the clearly fictional 'infected' characters". The ruling means the game cannot be sold, advertised, hired or demonstrated within Australia.
This decision was made after the game's distributor Electronic Arts asked for a review of the game's original Restricted status.
The censors also recently awarded World of Warcraft an M for mature certificate. The Board already requires any company selling computer games, including arcade games, to apply for a certificate. ®
COMMENTS
@Geoffy
I suppose you consider violent video games responsible for crimes committed in the ghettos of Johannesburg, and victims of drug gangs' crossfire in Colombia and Mexico?
I guess you're opposed to censorship of movies, music, and books, however. And against the video game censorship that's gone 'too far' - it's a good thing that you're here to be the sole arbiter of what adults are allowed to see, hear, and think about, isn't it? Three cheers for Geoffy, who has finally found that crime can be eliminated by preventing people from watching imaginary bad things!
Thank goodness - now that you're in charge, we can go back to the pre-TV, movie, video game, and book days of the early 1300s, when crime was virtually unknown.
@Geoffy
I think you'd be surprised by the levels of violence in Australia. For a small population they've had more than their fair share of serial killers. The principal difference to when I last returned to the UK (recently) is that the Aussie media is generally upbeat and UK media utter doom-sayers. Same news, different viewpoint.
As for general violence, I'd never seen so many fights in boozers with such abundant regularity until I came to Australia.
Don't judge us by our esteemed leaders
Approximately 0% of Australians back Mr Rudd and Mr Conroy on any of this. They were elected as a protest against John Howard and have repeatedly proven their complete uselessness as effective leaders.
Paris because she's smarter than Rudd, Swan and Conroy put together.
hmmmmm
first I must say I am an Australian and 2 months ago I would have agreed with most of the comments above but since relocating to the UK I have to say I am all for sensorship on violent games. Fact is there is no where near as much violence or murder in Australia, the news over here in London gives me nightmares! And be they take the sensorship too far sometimes but I would rather that then the alternative, becoming like the UK.
Oh AndyTowler I wish it was true but immagration to the island never seems to stop!
depressing but not surprising
it's depressing to say but as an aussie we got the govt we deserve. on the whole we're a conservative/reactionary bunch - think Texas minus a bill of rights - and I'm convinced this is the sort of govt most people want. as I was saying - depressing...
