Notes

Minecraft Ban Reports Investigated By Microsoft

Minecraft bans are investigated by Microsoft By Kevin Rawlinson BBC News



11 March 2015



Microsoft Minecraft, the owner of Minecraft, is investigating reports that the Turkish government is planning to ban the game. The BBC is aware.



According to local media, a research conducted by the Turkish Family and Social Policies Ministry found that the game encouraged violence.



There were conflicting reports regarding what actions the government was planning to take in response.



Some claimed it would ask a court for a ban on the game. Others claimed it would demand Microsoft to make modifications.



According to the Haberturk newspaper the report of the ministry reads: "Although the game can be viewed as encouraging creativity in children by building bridges, farms, and houses mobs of hostile creatures have to be killed to protect these structures. The game is based on violence.



'Social isolation'



According to the news report, some children might be able to confuse Minecraft with the real world, and believe that torturing animals would not cause pain.



The report said it was based on the experience of a nine-year-old and it suggested that playing Minecraft could cause "social isolation".



Haberturk reported that the ministry's legal affairs department was instructed to take the first steps toward banning Minecraft.



But according to Fatih Oke, a spokesman for the Turkish Embassy in Washington DC, a ban was "out of the question".



Christian Science Monitor was told by Mr Oke that there will be no ban.



"The game is not banned and will not be banned.



The Family and Social Policy Ministry isn't able to prohibit any product.



"I believe that this is what has been reported in the Turkish media However, it's not true.



"The ministry cannot deal with complaints.



"In this instance, I was told that there were numerous complaints from parents about the influence of Minecraft on children.
minecraft servers


"The purpose of this ministry is to create awareness."



The government can't prohibit the game in a unilateral manner however it could persuade the court.



While Turkey is not renowned for banning computer games, some websites have been taken down in recent times.



Last year, both YouTube and Twitter were temporarily blocked. Facebook had to block certain websites that were deemed to be insulting to the Prophet Muhammad in January.



'Creative freedom'



Mojang the company that makes Minecraft under Microsoft's umbrella, did not comment on the reports.



He said: "Minecraft is enjoyed by many players in a wide variety of ways.



"While many people enjoy the artistic freedom Minecraft and its tools offer, others are more interested in the opportunity to explore a landscape with no boundaries and share exciting adventures with their friends.



"We encourage players to work together for success regardless of whether they're building, exploring or exploring.



"The Minecraft world can be risky: it's home for terrifying, genderless monsters that appear at night.



"It might be necessary to defend yourself against them to survive.



"If people find this level fantasy conflict upsetting, then we suggest they use Creative Mode or to allow the Peaceful setting to be used.



"Both of these options will prevent monsters from appearing everywhere."



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