Clinton wants GTA San Andreas to get Adults Only rating

Senator Clinton to introduce legislation penalising retailers for selling videogames of unsuitable content to minors.

Following yesterday's news of Senator Clinton's stance against the sex mini-game scandal of GTA San Andreas, she has now been joined by Senator Joseph Lieberman, who together are calling for action from either the game's maker or the government.

Lieberman has asked Rockstar to have the game submitted for an independent analysis to establish how the pornographic content arrived in the game.

"I am asking you to bring this matter to light and resolve this serious controversy by voluntarily submitting your game to independent concerned and responsible parties for such technical analysis," Lieberman wrote.

Senator Clinton has said she will introduce legislation to stop children getting their hands on videogames containing unsuitable content and has asked the Federal Trade Commission to investigate Grand Theft Auto San Andreas. The proposed legislation would see retailers fined $5000 for selling violent and sexually explicit videogames to minors.

"The disturbing material in 'Grand Theft Auto' and other games like it is stealing the innocence of our children, and it's making the difficult job of being a parent even harder," Clinton said.

Clinton called on the FTC to determine if the current M rating for San Andreas remains suitable, given the game's newly discovered pornographic content, expressing that an Adults Only rating may be more appropriate. Clinton also asked the FTC to examine the retailers' enforcement of videogame ratings, which should be stopping minors from purchasing M rated games.

Bo Andersen, president of the Video Software Dealers Assn., said Clinton had gone too far with her actions brought about because of the game.

"Sen. Clinton is a fine lawyer and undoubtedly knows that her proposal is unconstitutional," said Anderson. "The senator's proposal is politically savvy but will do nothing to help parents make informed choices about the video games their children play. In fact, by turning the voluntary video game ratings system into a cudgel of government censorship, Sen. Clinton's proposal ironically would likely lead to the abandonment of the ratings system."