Microsoft Starts Child Safety Campaign

Microsoft Entertainment and Devices Division president Robbie Bach has begun a new campaign to encourage parental control and understanding of video game products. Bach has spoken of plans to champion safer interactive entertainment, working together with business, government and schools and children’s groups. The venture will begin with a U.S., grassroots campaign with Boys & Girls Clubs of America and Best Buy designed to help educate parents and caregivers with information and tools. The campaign will begin today in New York City, with a twenty city bus tour called "Safety is no game. Is your family set?" The tour will provide hands-on training and education on video games, including how to understand Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) ratings and how to take advantage of Xbox 360 Family Settings. "With success comes responsibility. We are unwavering in our commitment to address the genuine concerns of families on how to keep interactive entertainment safe and fun for our children," Bach said. "In addition to our current Family Settings feature in Xbox 360, we have built in robust but easy-to-use parental controls in Windows Vista. Windows Vista serves as a good example of how we are working to incorporate the Family Settings feature into our products to ensure that parents can decide and set the parameters for their families." The new campaign is aimed at complementing Microsoft's partnership with Get Net Safe, a joint initiative with government and the non-profit sector to raise consumers' awareness of computing security and Internet safety. Further information on the "Safety is no game" campaign can be found at the official website.