Hansard

Thank you, Presiding Officer. I agree wholeheartedly with what has been said. I am not suggesting for a moment that it is not a matter for us, and I hope that I did not give the impression that that was the case. It is important, but we need to listen to those in the Youth Parliament environment, because they have things to tell us that we are probably not aware of, particularly in the context of the technologies that we speak of. We are somewhat distant from the modern developments that occur almost daily, although we need to try to keep up to date with those developments.

Stewart Maxwell has brought to our attention the important impacts that arise from the access to the internet that can be gained as a result of new technological developments. Harmful content online demands that all practical steps necessary to protect children must be taken. In this fast-changing world of new technologies, Government and other authorities should keep abreast of the developments in order to maintain security.

I invite Stewart Maxwell to consider that not only children but vulnerable adults need means of protection, because they can be influenced by what they might see on devices such as tablets. He touched on the point that it is not solely in the music industry but in the games industry where access to extensive violence, particular attitudes and a culture impacts on individuals who then become imbued with similar views. Across the world, we have seen people who have spent extensive time viewing unpalatable images on the internet become involved in extreme violence and death.

This morning, I googled the subject of protecting children from harmful content. It took less than a second to get 92 million results. That is a matter of deep concern, yet The Herald reported in 2011 that only one in four parents in Scotland had initiated controls on their systems to limit the internet to try and protect those in their family from the distasteful images that might be available.

A standardised approach is necessary and the British Board of Film Classification provides a useful input in that regard. However, the authorities that oversee gaming should also standardise their approach with that of the BBFC.

I whole-heartedly support the motion.