Lord Triesman @ the Virtual Worlds Conference in London
November 6, 2007 by Roderick Jones
Lord Triesman - minister for Innovation and Universities in the UK commented on virtual worlds from a government perspective at the conference in London.
Most interestingly he said he hoped the operators of the worlds would take a lead in regulating the worlds - something which hasn’t happened yet. He also stated there was a certain inevitability about government involvement where children are concerned.
This is arguably the challenge facing virtual world creators - to regulate themselves before government does.
Though of course as a typical Minister he opens his mouth before consulting his lawyers, or indeed, consulting anyone.
There is probably very little the UK can or indeed would do in virtual worlds other than convene an international committee to look into the subject at an EU or similar level.
The simple fact is that due to the international nature of the issues facing virtual worlds a single nation state such as the UK deciding to make unilateral decisions will have very little effect.
Pressure for change must be both international and laid upon the Industry as a whole rather than a single industry product.
David Grundy