Australia looking to implement automated rating system for online and mobile games

The federal government is looking to reform the way video games are classified in Australia.

Minister for Home Affairs Jason Clare announced today that he would introduce the first stage of reforms to the National Classification System into parliament during the winter session.

The reforms implement seven of the recommendations proposed by a review of the National Classification Scheme Review undertaken by the Australian Law Reform Commission in 2012.

Among the reforms are included several recommendations for how the National Classification System should classify video games, including a pilot program for automated classification decisions for mobile and online games, and new rules to allow minor modifications to be made to games without the need for a new classification.

Clare presented the reforms to the Standing Council on Law and Justice in Darwin yesterday, where state and territory ministers agreed to the changes.

According to Clare's office, state and territory ministers will consider further reform at the next meeting of the Standing Council on Law and Justice in October.

The aim of the National Classification Scheme Review is to reform Australia's classification laws in light of recent technological changes, media convergence, and the global distribution platforms of media content.