Regulation reports and market data
Documents
Position Paper: Public Consultation for the Fitness Check of EU Consumer Law on Digital Fairness
The analysis contends that the existing EU consumer-protection framework is already adequate for ensuring digital fairness in the video-game sector and should be fully deployed before any new legislation is considered.
- The existing EU consumer-protection framework is sufficient for ensuring digital fairness in the video-game sector, and no new legislation should be introduced until current powers are fully utilized.
- The industry’s self-regulatory PEGI system is a core component of the current framework, currently maintaining approximately 75% consumer awareness regarding age-appropriate ratings.
- Existing EU regulations already effectively prohibit manipulative commercial practices such as bait-and-switch tactics and false testimonials within the gaming market.
European Commission Proposal for a Regulation Laying Down Rules to Prevent and Combat Child Sexual Abuse
The position presented by Video Games Europe and the European Games Developer Federation seeks to shape the European Commission’s proposed regulation on child sexual abuse online by emphasizing that interactive video-game environments already embody a robust, safety-by-design framework.
- Video Games Europe and the European Games Developer Federation argue that gaming platforms should be exempt from uniform high-risk regulatory models because they already utilize safety-by-design frameworks.
- Data from the 2021 NCMEC Cybertipline indicates that incidents of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and grooming are significantly lower on video game services compared to platforms focused on photo or video sharing.
- A 2020 Ofcom/ICO survey of 4,000 respondents found that only 2% of adults and 3% of children reported experiencing harms via video game play.
Video Games Europe: Position on the Green Transition Consumer Directive
The text articulates Video Games Europe’s response to the European Commission’s proposal for a Directive that would empower consumers in the green transition, emphasizing the sector’s commitment to sustainability while seeking regulatory clarity.
- The European video games sector, representing a €23.3 billion industry with 90,000 employees and 250 million players, is actively lobbying to shape the EU's Green Transition Consumer Directive.
- Video Games Europe supports the two-year commercial guarantee benchmark and the EU 2019/771 definition of 'durability,' which protects manufacturers from liability regarding piracy-related damage.
- The industry opposes a blanket ban on software updates that reduce functionality, arguing that such restrictions could hinder legitimate service termination and inadvertently increase energy consumption.
European Commission Study About Business-to-Consumer Contractual Arrangements in the Data Economy
The statement submitted by Video Games Europe and the European Games Developer Federation (EGDF) seeks to clarify the interpretation of “data contracts” within the European Commission’s study on Business-to-Consumer (B2C) contractual arrangements in the data economy.
- Video Games Europe and the EGDF argue that the European Commission’s survey incorrectly classifies routine data processing—such as account registration and technical device information—as a 'data contract' exchange.
- The industry groups contend that most video game data processing is driven by contractual necessity, legal obligations, or legitimate interests, rather than consumer consent.
- The European video game sector generated €23.3 billion in 2021, positioning it as the third-largest global market for the industry.
Trialogue Negotiations on the Proposal for an e-Privacy Regulation: Key Considerations from the Video Games Industry
Video Games Europe, representing 17 major publishers and national trade associations across 15 European countries, urges trialogue negotiators to craft an e-Privacy Regulation that aligns with GDPR consistency while preserving the sector’s capacity to innovate and protect users.
- The European video game industry, comprising 5,100 studios and 90,000 employees, generated €12 billion in annual turnover and saw 22 percent year-on-year growth as of 2020.
- Video Games Europe argues that in-game chat rooms must be excluded from the definition of interpersonal communication services to allow for essential monitoring of cheating, hate speech, and child safety risks.
- The industry advocates for Article 8 provisions that permit processing terminal equipment data for security, fraud prevention, and performance updates without requiring individual consent.