Washington State and the licensing of VR -- [a clear and present danger to our youth .. at least in

[David Farber <farber () central cis upenn edu>]

Date: Wed, 09 Feb 94 13:45:21 -0800
From: Daniel Pezely dpezely () bvu-lads loral com


A friend who frequents the Washington state government passed this on to me:


There is a bill at the state level:
(excerpts from ``Public Health & Safety Act 1994'' bill, SBR 6174)


    NEW SECTION.  Sec. 706 (1) A license is required for the commercial use
of virtual reality technology for entertainment or purposes other then bona
fide education, training, research, and development.


where VR is defined:


    NEW SECTION.  Sec 702.  (4)  ``Virtual Reality'' means any computer or
other electronic technology that creates an enhanced illusion of
three-dimensional, real-time or near-real-time interactive reality through
the use of software, specialized hardware, holograms, gloves, masks,
glasses, computer guns, or other item capable of producing visual, audio,
and sensory effects of verisimilitude beyond those available with a personal
computer.


My friend was present at the hearing of a portion of this bill.
Evidentally, the person backing the bill, Senator Phil Talmadge, and his
crew are convincing the State Congress that VR will permit ``a realistic
illusion of killing another person and such an illusion will make it easier
for someone to go out and acutally commit such a crime outside of VR''
(quoting my friend who was quoting from memory).


This is all part of the movement to reduce violence by controlling media and
entertainment.


However, because of a misunderstanding of the possibilities of the
technology and the lack of a total suspention of disbelief which most
researchers would claim will never happen, the government would like to
restrict and control anything which has VR elements, whether being marketed
as VR or not.


The important issue which needs to be addressed right now is not so much a
method to reduce the violence in communities but the nature of
government-level control.


The State Congress has a very short calendar this year.   This matter could
be voted upon as early as next week (week of 14 Feb 94), and the
congressional session ends 8 March 1994, so this could be voted into law in
less than one month.


Senator Phil Talmadge (206) 786-7436
Leading the opposition: Senator Sheldon (206) 786-7644


Senate Fax: (206) 786-1999


Commission on Public Health & Safety Act 1994


Bill to be heard in Ways & Means Committee (Sen. Rinehart, Chair),
Wednesday night, February 9, 1994; then to Rules.




for status of bill, call Secretary of Senate: 206/786-7550