Germany seeks ban on violent computer games

Germany wants to give regulators the power to ban violent computer games following the shooting rampage at an Erfurt school last month.

Sixteen people were killed when Robert Steinhaeuser, who was recently expelled from the school, opened fire before killing himself.

The former student had owned violent videos and computer games, and his parents said he was obsessed with violence.

The government said its move would give authority over computer software to a federal agency, and said it is looking into ways to extend its control to the Internet as well.

The new rules would allow the agency to create a blacklist of material deemed seriously dangerous to children, especially material depicting extreme violence.

The government said any electronic source that ‘‘glorifies war, represents people in a way detrimental to their human dignity or shows children in a sexually suggestive physical manner,’’ will be subject to distribution and advertising bans.

Coupled with steps taken this week to toughen gun laws, the move is seen as an effort to get new legislation on the books ahead of federal elections in September.

Germany was shocked by the Erfurt killings, and the law is expected to pass without objection from the main opposition parties.

But the government added that parents were ultimately responsible for protecting their own children.

‘‘The protection of children is not solely the task of legal regulation,’’ Family Affairs Minister Christine Bergmann said.

‘‘Young people need support to solve conflicts and frustrations without violence. That begins in the family through a violence-free upbringing.’’