All players in the video game industry regret that the Member States of the World Health Assembly (the decision-making body of the WHO - World Health Organization), have chosen to implement the much discussed “Video game disorder” in the 11th edition of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11).
The video game industry makes an important contribution to society and the economy but, above all, takes its responsibility towards gamers very seriously, and especially for minors.
Simon Little, CEO of ISFE, Interactive Software Federation of Europe, says: “As a highly respected organization, WHO must base its decisions on relevant, regular and comprehensive reviews supported by independent experts. The WHO concept of "video game disorder" is not based on any sufficiently solid evidence to justify its inclusion in one of the most important normative tools of the WHO. Once added to the list, these notions can remain there, wrongly, for years. ISFE joins professional video game associations around the world to ask Member States, first of all, to review the WHO decision on the integration of “Video Game Disorder” into ICD-11, then, in the short term, to redefine this notion as “risky gambling practice”, and, ultimately, to completely remove the notion of “video game disorder” from ICD-11. "
The interactive entertainment industry plays a major role in the development of emerging technologies, particularly in the areas of virtual reality, augmented reality, artificial intelligence and big data analysis. It also participates in the advances made by research in many fields such as mental health, Alzheimer's disease, cancers, accessibility and career paths in the sectors of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. . At the same time, it has developed world-class consumer protection tools, in particular by developing parental controls and awareness programs for responsible gaming.
Sources:
- Journal of Behavioral Addictions, December 2016 (https://akademiai.com/doi/abs/10.1556/2006.5.2016.088) and Journal of Behavioral Addictions, March 2018 (https://akademiai.com/doi/abs/10.1556/2006.7.2018.19)
- UNICEF, “Children in a digital world”, December 2017