China restricts access to online games

China has already started regulating access to online games in 2019. Now the rules are being tightened once again: minors are only allowed to play online for three hours a week, and only at times set by the Unity Party.

Government sets gaming hours

In the future, anyone who is not at least eighteen years old will only be able to access online video games from 8 to 9 p.m. on Fridays and for one hour each on Saturdays and Sundays. On public holidays, the Chinese state will grant an additional hour of game time. The reason given for the far-reaching access ban is to protect the physical and mental health of children and young people. The decree, which comes into force on September 1, was preceded by a call for stricter regulation in a state-controlled newspaper, which was withdrawn again but is likely to be closely linked to the step now taken.

Even before the current tightening, the rules were strict and interfered heavily with minors’ self-determination: Previously, they were allowed to play online for one and a half hours every day, and three hours on holidays.

Clarname requirement has been in place for two years

The regulation can also be enforced because online games in China have already been subject to a no-exceptions plain-name requirement for two years. In addition, payments in the games can only be processed via state-approved interfaces. The state as well as the operators of the games are thus able to track the gaming behavior of individual players, which makes it easier to monitor compliance with the new law. The person in charge of the relevant regulatory authority announced that it intends to intensify controls at all gaming companies. Thus, tough enforcement is to be expected. Circumvention via VPN is unlikely to be possible for private individuals due to the state’s Internet control and VPN ban.

Tencent’s own regulation exceeded

The Chinese corporation Tencent, which is one of the leading providers in the gaming sector, had recently already issued strict control rules in the sense of anticipatory obedience and significantly restricted access times for minors. In addition, it had forced all players who wanted to play at night to identify themselves as adults via facial recognition. However, the rules now issued by the state are even more restrictive than those to which Tencent had committed itself.