Youth protection

[Hendrik Schrieber]

In general, this bug is about youth protection in Ubuntu, Linux and Software-Center.

Since the Ubuntu Software-Center came up it has been progressively becoming easier to install software and games in Ubuntu.

There are many games like Nexuiz that are subject to legal restrictions and youth protection. Of course you could say parents are supposed to look after their children but still there is a responsibility (also legally) for a provider of software to ensure a proper youth protection since many children today already have their own computer.

I am not in the legal business so I don't know anything about this. Maybe there is someone who can clarify this. But: In Germany (and I think it is similar in other countries) for example games have to be marked with a minimum age children must have to buy the game. In USC you do not have to buy all of the games but some games are free. Nevertheless, if there are any age restrictions they should show up somewhere (maybe they even have to for games you buy?).

If this is all ok from the legal point of view, I think it is still worth trying to improve the current situation. It is probably impossible to totally prevent children from downloading and installing games they are not supposed to have, but we should have at least something for the parents so they can seeif a game (or movie etc.) is appropriate for the child to have.

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 12.04
Package: software-center 5.2.9
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.5.0-30.51~precise1-generic 3.5.7.9
Uname: Linux 3.5.0-30-generic i686
ApportVersion: 2.0.1-0ubuntu17.2
Architecture: i386
Date: Wed May 22 11:18:43 2013
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 12.04 LTS "Precise Pangolin" - Release i386 (20120423)
MarkForUpload: True
PackageArchitecture: all
ProcEnviron:
 PATH=(custom, no user)
 LANG=de_DE.UTF-8
 SHELL=/bin/bash
SourcePackage: software-center
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)

[Dave Morley (davmor2)]

This maybe Something that the dash team wish to think about.

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

Status changed to 'Confirmed' because the bug affects multiple users.