2mo ago

Research reveals “non-existent” enforcement of industry-led standards on loot boxes

5rightsfoundation.com

Gaming @beehaw.org

Pro @programming.dev

2mo ago

Research reveals “non-existent” enforcement of industry-led standards on loot boxes

5rightsfoundation.com /research-reveals-non-existent-enforcement-of-industry-led-standards-on-loot-boxes/

Games @sh.itjust.works

Pro @programming.dev

2mo ago

Research reveals “non-existent” enforcement of industry-led standards on loot boxes

5rightsfoundation.com /research-reveals-non-existent-enforcement-of-industry-led-standards-on-loot-boxes/

16 comments

When the fuck has "industry self-regulation" ever worked?
- Credit card processing standards are heavily industry regulated. At least in the US. There are some state and federal laws but it's mostly Visa, Discover, and other cc companies that regulate and develop these standards. They have the teeth to stop all your credit card processing if you don't meet their requirements. Frankly, they actually do have decent security protocols and practices.
  They take it seriously because they really don't want the government to mess with processing fees and whatever else makes them money. In some ways I'd rather it be regulated, but the current gov shouldn't be trusted with anything.
  
  Really? And did they self regulate their fees? Oh wait no, it took EU enforcement to cut down their fees and stop businesses passing them onto customers. The EU also enforced more security regulation, and more use of those by the banks themselves using these credit card processors who washed their hands of levels of security
  
  They are HEAVY censorers of a multitude of people. They arent regulated themselves.
- Well, according to these industry-funded/conducted research papers, it works quite well, quite often!
  Just as your current local or national politician who used to work for us, is being funded by us, and will go back to working for us if they lose their next election!
- Game content rating boards work (ESRB, PEGI, CERO, etc.). The difference here is there's no pressure from the digital storefronts. They don't have the same taboos on gambling that brick-and-mortar stores had on sex and violence in video games back when they started up.
  
  Do these rating boards actually ever prevent games from being released though? Aside from maybe Germany or whatever...
  It's more about categorization than regulation.
While I agree regulation must be enforced, let's not forget that if a kid is playing on a phone that has a credit card saved, is enterely their parents' fault.
And same if the kid has access to the card itself.
Laws to regulate lootboxes are a must, and I believe this kind of products should be treated as gambling. But FFS, it's your kid, take some responsibility on what they play and what they buy. A 10 years-old can't open a bank account or a credit card by themselves, so the card is their parents'. You are doing something very wrong as a parent if your kid can dispose of your credit cards unchecked and freely.
- Fuck that, kids are kids. The companies are responsible for being able to easily roll back invalid loot box purchases if we allow them to exist in the first place.
  My preference would be to ban them entirely.
  
  "This kid shot up a school because their parents left their gun on the kitchen table fully loaded, but hey kids are kids!" That's you right now.
Surprised compliance with the principles was as high as it was.
Industry led standards around for profit exploitation are always a way for companies to avoid real regulation that would curb their malicious behavior.

16 comments