Minecraft ban reports investigated by Microsoft By Kevin Rawlinson BBC News
11 March 2015
Minecraft owner Microsoft is investigating reports the Turkish government is preparing to ban the game, the BBC understands.
According to local media, a study by the Turkish Family and Social Policies Ministry found that the game encouraged violence.
There were conflicting reports about what action the government was planning to take as a result.
Some people said it would ask the court to ban it, while others said it would request that Microsoft edit it.
Haberturk newspaper reported that a ministry report stated that although the game could be seen as encouraging creativity by children, allowing them to build houses, farms, and bridges. However, mobs must be killed to protect these structures. In short, the game is based on violence."
'Social isolation'
According to the newspaper, children could confuse Minecraft for the real world and be led into believing that torturing animals would bring no pain.
It said that the report was based upon the experience of a nine year-old and suggested that playing Minecraft could lead "social isolation".
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Haberturk reported the ministry's legal affairs department had been instructed to take the first steps towards banning Minecraft.
But, according to Fatih Oke, a spokesman for the Turkish Embassy in Washington DC, a ban was "out of the question".
Mr Oke told Christian Science Monitor: "There will be no ban.
"The game is not being banned and will not be banned.
The Family and Social Policy Ministry is not authorized to ban any product.
"I understand that this is what was said in the Turkish media, however, it is incorrect.
"The ministry can only work with complaints.
"In this instance, I was told that there were many complaints from parents about Minecraft's influence on children.
"The ministry's purpose is to raise awareness."
The government could not ban the game unilaterally. It would have to convince a court.
Although Turkey isn't known for banning computer games it has taken down some websites in recent years.
Last year, access to both Twitter and YouTube was temporarily shut down, while Facebook was required to block some pages said to insult the Prophet Muhammad in January this year.
'Creative freedom'
A spokesman for Mojang, which makes Minecraft under the Microsoft umbrella after the latter bought the game for $2.5bn (PS1.68bn) in September 2014, would not comment directly on the reports.
He stated, "Minecraft can be enjoyed by many players in many different ways."
"While many people enjoy the creative freedom Minecraft offers, others are more excited by the opportunity to explore a world without borders and go on exciting adventures together.
"We encourage players to cooperate in order to succeed, whether they're building, exploring, or adventuring.
"The Minecraft world can be dangerous because it is inhabited by terrifying, genderless monsters that emerge at night.
"It might be necessary for them to survive.
"If people find this level or the conflict in fantasy disturbing, we encourage them either to play in Creative Mode or to enable the Peaceful Setting.
"Both of these options will prevent monsters from appearing in the world."
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