Manila’s sudden ban on violent video games following a school shooting has triggered a familiar chorus from Whitehall. But as the City knows, moral panic rarely translates into effective regulation. The government’s call for global safety standards for gaming sounds noble, but the devil is in the details.
In a market where the bottom line is king, these proposed rules risk stifling innovation and alienating a thriving industry. Let’s examine the balance between protecting consumers and preserving market efficiency. Gilt yields may be steady for now, but any regulatory overreach could trigger capital flight from UK tech listings.
The Treasury should tread carefully: fiscal responsibility demands evidence, not headlines.
