The Turkish government has launched an investigation into the fiendish digital threat that is... Minecraft. Why?
on grounds that it encourages violence, especially against woman. The investigation aims at inspecting whether or not the game contains motives to trigger violence in its players.
Hurriyet explains:
The range of monsters the player has to fight in order to keep playing include zombies, skeletons, spiders, witches, giants, dragons, guardians and killer bunnies.
In the higher levels of the game the player may need to kill women, allies and even friends for survival reasons.
The ministry has received many complaints regarding the violent elements, especially against women, in the video game and thus launched an inspection.
The article looks to the US for support: "Minecraft, which had been sold to Microsoft for $2.5 billion, had also caused debate in the U.S. for containing elements of violence."
What could result?
If the ministry’s investigation decides that the game encourages violence, the ministry will proceed by opening a law suit against the game for a country-wide ban.
Once again, cyberfear always has the capacity to elicit policy responses.
That emphasis on violence against women, as opposed to violence against all targets or against children, is interesting. Perhaps it ties into the Turkish government's return to conservative Islam. Maybe it aims at the United States and its resurgent gender politics. Whatever the cause, let's see if the theme continues.
(link thanks to Son of Infocult; photo by Tim Pierce)
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