Possibility of game blocking access to players in Arizona?

[fidothegran]

So there is this bill that in Arizona that is likely to be passed (HB 2133). It is aimed at things like deepfakes, but could sweep in things like video games if interpreted broadly. Is there a good possibility of FFXIV terminating access, disabling core features such as chat or character customization in the state due to legal uncertainty if the bill is passed? While the game assets do not contain anything that could be covered, ERP is a thing, and it is technically possible to create a character that superficially resembles a real person.

Please, no explicit political discussion here!

[Striker44]

No.

/10 char

[CCheshire]

I mean, this is about a law for Arizona, so IDK how we can avoid politics? Also, all online interactions are unrated because you can't control or predict what total strangers will do in an MMO other than reporting them for breaking the ToS.

[fidothegran]

I mean, this is about a law for Arizona, so IDK how we can avoid politics? Also, all online interactions are unrated because you can't control or predict what total strangers will do in an MMO other than reporting them for breaking the ToS.

I mean don't blame people you personally disagree with.

[Mikey_R]

Why would FFXIV be affected in any way? Looking at the amendments briefly (bear in mind, I'm not from the US) it is just expanding the scope of what the bill covers and bringing it up to date with modern technology, for example, AI. It is still targeting the person that made and distributed the image, that hasn't changed.

To make a comparison, it would be like banning MS paint, or other image editing software because it has the potential to make such images and noone thinks that.

[Alicie]

It is not technically possible to block access to the game in a single state. Even in a country. There's always VPN and whatnot.

[Daralii]

C. THIS SECTION DOES NOT APPLY IF IT IS CLEAR TO A REASONABLE
VIEWER THAT THE IMAGE, RECORDING OR VIDEO HAS BEEN BOTH:
1. DIGITALLY MANIPULATED.
2. CREATED FOR THE PURPOSES OF ANY OF THE FOLLOWING:
(a) PARODY.
(b) COMEDY.
(c) ARTISTIC EXPRESSION.
(d) CRITICISM OF MATTERS OF PUBLIC CONCERN.

No reasonable viewer would ever mistake an XIV character for a real person, and ERP or any other kind of player-made sexual content falls under parody or artistic expression. I assume that this is a troll thread, but whatever.

[fidothegran]

The websites that could host such content have to implement detection software and keep records of consent for seven years.

[Jeeqbit]

Artistic expression or comedy could be used to rule out 99.99% of cases, simply by claiming such. That leaves just where it is not funny and is harassment of a real person.

[Divinemights]

No reasonable viewer would ever mistake an XIV character for a real person, and ERP or any other kind of player-made sexual content falls under parody or artistic expression. I assume that this is a troll thread, but whatever.

It stays ‘true’ right up until some shady lawyer in the U.S. decides to twist it for their own benefit to win a case.
Please remember the case of Liebeck v. McDonald's Restaurants?