Legislation Proposed in Spain: Prohibition of Loot Boxes for Underage Individuals
In a move aimed at ensuring a safer digital environment for children, the Spanish government has unveiled a draft bill to regulate loot boxes and similar game elements. The proposed regulations focus on robust age verification systems, stringent content and advertising controls, and legal measures to limit harmful adult behaviour online.
The draft bill, spearheaded by Consumer Affairs Minister Alberto Garzón, seeks to impose privacy-focused age verification for loot boxes. Systems must be anonymous and perform all data processing on the user’s device, avoiding centralized databases or persistent user tracking. Users will only need to prove their age to access age-restricted content like loot boxes.
The key points of the regulations also include effective age verification for age-sensitive content, with pornographic or violent content clearly separated from other types of media. Large media operators and influencers with many followers will be required to report inappropriate content for minors.
In addition, the regulations aim to limit costs for adults regarding loot boxes, with time restrictions and individual maximum spending proposed. New labeling requirements are planned, including the indication of the likelihood of obtaining a specific result and the costs associated with loot boxes.
The Spanish government is also working in collaboration with other EU countries to develop EU-wide technical age verification solutions, enhancing protection for underage users.
The gaming industry could face a significant blow if the bill is enforced, as it currently generates a lot of revenue from loot boxes. However, Minister Garzón, known for his determination in enforcing strict regulations, argues that these measures are necessary to prevent potential pathological gambling behaviour, particularly among vulnerable young people.
The draft bill is open for public consultation until July 23, 2022. Citizens are invited to express their opinions, submit suggestions, and participate in the debate on the new regulations. If the authorities in Spain succeed in enforcing this bill, it could have a groundbreaking signal effect in Europe and complicate the legal situation in other countries.
Providers of video games, operators of platforms and websites, and many other service providers will have to verify the age of their users in the future to unlock certain services. Strict advertising restrictions are included in the draft bill, prohibiting physical and digital advertising for games with loot boxes, except for radio and television between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m.
The issue of loot box regulation has sparked a debate, with Alberto Garzón bringing the controversial issue into the public eye. The bill, if enacted, would mark a novelty in Spain, with the draft bill aiming to completely prohibit access for people under 18.
Spain, a major producer of pork, ranking fourth worldwide and overtaking Germany in the number of pigs, continues to make headlines with its regulatory initiatives, from online gambling to agriculture. The debate on loot box regulation will undoubtedly shape the future of the gaming industry in Spain and potentially across Europe.
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- What about the potential impact on the finance sector and the gaming industry's revenue due to the new regulations on loot boxes?
- The draft bill, focusing on age-verification systems and content controls, also proposes limiting costs for adults involving loot boxes, thereby touching on financial policy-and-legislation and general-news.
