Mexico Approves Tax on Violent Video Games Amid Rising Crime Rates
Mexico’s Chamber of Deputies recently approved a financial package including an eight percent tax on video games deemed to have mature content. The tax applies to games rated C or D under Mexico’s video game age classification system-similar to the ESRB ratings in the US-covering games appropriate for ages 18+ that may contain extreme violence, bloodshed, or graphic sexual content. A D rating is reserved for adults only and allows for prolonged scenes with similar content.
The proposed law, initially introduced in September, stems from claims by the country’s Treasury Department that “recent studies have found a relationship between the use of violent video games and higher levels of aggression among adolescents, as well as negative social and psychological effects such as isolation and anxiety.” The Treasury Department cited a 2012 study to support this claim, though the specific studies referenced were not fully detailed in the proposal.
Critics point to a substantial body of research questioning a causal link between video game violence and real-world aggression, noting methodological flaws in studies suggesting such a connection.
The move has drawn criticism for it’s apparent contradiction: taxing products the government together suggests contribute to societal violence. Opponents argue the tax appears to be a revenue-generating measure disguised as a public safety initiative, notably given Mexico’s ongoing struggles with cartel-based crime and political violence.
The tax will increase the price of affected video games by eight percent, turning a $50 game into a $54 purchase.
