Manila struck first. The Philippines announced a ban on a specific video game following its link to a school shooter. Now, Whitehall sources tell me the Home Office is under pressure to follow suit.
It is a classic Westminster pattern. A tragedy abroad. A moral panic at home.
Ministers scent an opportunity to look tough. The game in question goes unnamed here for legal reasons, but you know the one. It is a hyper-realistic first-person shooter.
The kind that parents hate and libertarians defend. The Philippine ban is absolute. Possession alone may land you in jail.
That is a step too far for most British MPs. But the clamour is building. I am told the Home Secretary has been 'minded' to launch a review.
That is Whitehall code for 'we are watching the polls'. The game's publisher is already briefing against the ban. They call it a 'knee-jerk reaction' that ignores the complexities of mental health.
They have a point. But logic rarely wins in a week like this. The real action is happening in the tea rooms of Portcullis House.
Backbenchers are sharpening their knives. They want a statutory instrument. A quick fix before the next recess.
The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport is said to be 'reluctant'. He prefers industry self-regulation. But he is isolated.
The PM is said to be 'sympathetic' to a crackdown. That is a dangerous signal for the gaming lobby. They have deep pockets, but they are fighting a cultural tide.
Expect a statement to the House early next week. The phrase 'duty of care' will feature heavily. The real question is whether this ends with a ban or just more parental controls.
My money is on a compromise. A new age rating. A 'harmful content' clause.
Something to placate the Mail while avoiding a full ban. But do not underestimate the mood. This government is tired.
It needs a win. And banning a video game is easier than fixing the NHS. I suspect we will see a lot of this in the coming months.
The global game of political follow-my-leader.
