For
Release: March 17,
2004
FTC
to Accept Complaints about Media Violence
The Federal Trade Commission has expanded
its consumer complaint handling system to categorize and track
complaints about media violence, including complaints about
the advertising, marketing, and sale of violent movies, electronic
games (including video games), and music. The expanded complaint
system, implemented in response to Congressional directives,
will enable the Commission to track consumer complaints about
media violence and identify issues of particular concern to
consumers. Consumers who wish to file complaints may use the
Commission’s online complaint form, available at http://www.ftc.gov,
or call toll-free at 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357). Consumers
should direct complaints regarding the content of television
programing to the Federal Communications Commission at www.fcc.gov/cgb/complaints.html.
The expanded complaint handling system includes
a new subject area – media violence – and several
new complaint categories designed to track complaints regarding
media violence, including complaints about ads for violent
entertainment products airing or appearing in media inappropriate
for children; ads containing an incorrect rating for violent
content, or no rating at all; cross-marketing of violent entertainment
products to children; and the sale or rental of violent entertainment
products to children.
The Commission has issued several reports
evaluating the major entertainment industries – motion
pictures, music, and electronic games – marketing and
advertising of violent entertainment products. To date, the
FTC has issued four reports on industry marketing activities,
and also held a public workshop in October 2003 addressing
the state of self-regulation and marketing in each of these
industries. Links to each of the Commission’s previous
reports, and further information about the workshop, may be
found at http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/workshops/violence/index.htm.
The FTC works for the consumer to prevent
fraudulent, deceptive, and unfair business practices in the
marketplace and to provide information to help consumers spot,
stop, and avoid them. To file a complaint, or to get free
information on any of 150 consumer topics, call toll-free,
1-877-FTC-HELP (1 877-382-4357), or use the complaint form
at http://www.ftc.gov.
The FTC enters Internet, telemarketing, identity theft, and
other fraud-related complaints into Consumer Sentinel, a secure,
online database available to hundreds of civil and criminal
law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Mitchell Katz
Office of Public Affairs
202-326-2161
STAFF CONTACT:
Richard Kelly
Bureau of Consumer Protection
202-326-3304
(FTC File No. P994511)
(http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2004/03/mediaviolence.htm)
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