Media Regulation Abroad

Another one, probably the last tonight, from a long time ago (in a distant galaxy).

"Digital Spy Wrote:Marriott 'to ban porn from hotel rooms'
Published Saturday, Jan 22 2011, 16:07 GMT | By Colin Daniels
Marriott International has announced plans to phase out pay-per-view adult movies from its hotel rooms.

The decision comes after revenue from customers accessing porn through their in-room entertainment systems dramatically decreased and follows discussions over whether it was appropriate for their clientele.

According to USA Today, the company said: "Changing technology and how guests access entertainment has reduced the revenue hotels and their owners derive from in-room movies, including adult content."

Joe McInerney, CEO of the American Hotel and Lodging Association, added: "It is a hotel's prerogative, as well as a business decision, regarding what services it provides to its guests, including those striving to enhance their family-friendly image."

The plan will initially be executed in new hotels by replacing the old video systems with on-demand services.

Digital Spy 22 Jan 2011 http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/odd/news/a29...rooms.html

Rather worrying story from abroad

Quote:Iran's Supreme Leader sets up body to oversee internet

Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has ordered officials to set up a body to oversee the internet.

What? All of it?

Iranian supreme techie Ayatollah Ali Khamenei

Quote:The Supreme Council of Virtual Space will include the president, the information and culture ministers, and police and Revolutionary Guard chiefs.

The council will be tasked with defining policy and co-ordinating decisions regarding the internet.

It is thought to be the strongest attempt so far by the Iranian authorities to control the internet.

Forget the nukes, this is serious. How did they wrest control away from California? Was there a vote?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-17288785

There is a rumour that the phone chat service eUrotic TV operated by Penteras Holding GmbH, an organisation owned by Austrian and
Bulgarian citizens Ivalyo Palmov and Franz Ressel will soon be operating a daytime show on the Sky digital platform.
Whilst there is no evidence as yet on who will regulate this service, the good news is that their current unencrypted service on the digital satellite platform ASTRA 1H, 19.2 ° East, transponder 108, 12 552 frequency, polarization vertically has just been granted a further ten year licence by the Austrian regulatory authority RTR (Rundfunk & TeleKom Regulierungs GnbH on the 31.1.2012.
The licence was only granted following an investigation to ensure that the applicant company was not financed by any prohibited trusts or investments (money laundering) nor influenced by dominant strangers (silent partners).

The programme is approved as follows:
eUrotic is posted on the German-speaking oriented unencrypted, emitted, 24 hours teleshopping program in adult entertainment with live call-in, Ways on "dating" and "personal contacts". Services will continuously be in the form of SMS, Photos or videos for a fee (premium rate numbers) available, for people to see, mostly women, who are usually rhythmically moving to music.
Between 06:00 and 23:00 clock there are to be no unclothed performers or no bare breasts, bare buttocks or genitals. Furthermore, no sexual acts or remarks such operations in the programme. These programnes are so designed to ensure content do not interfere to the physical, mental or moral development of Minors.
Between 23:00 and 06:00 clock the above restrictions do not apply in full. Pornographic content - even those that are not criminally proscribed - are not transmitted. During this period a warning shall be displayed that the program is designed for adults, characterized, and at regular intervals, every few minutes, with the message "This programme is not suitable for minors " is indicated.
Visual warnings, and finally the choice of nightly air time help to ensure that the shows do not have an impairment of the physical, mental or moral development of minors who may accidentally view and are regarded as credible.
The linguistic focus of the program is German.

Vienna, 31 January 2012
Austrian Communications Authority
Dr. Susanne Lackner
Member

The full determination can be found at http://www.rtr.at/de/m/KOA213511020

So the Austrian authorities take the sensible view that minors viewing late night content will not be affected due to adequate warning signage.

Pornographic content can only be shown behind an encrypted signal.

Apologise for the translation.

Genitals yes, pornographic no.
And thats the Austrain definition of porn, not the Daily Mails.

Media Regulation Abroad - and Abroard Regulating Here
Thought this item about the internet might be of interest

Quote:Child online safety plans unveiled by Brussels

The European Commission is considering setting up an age-based authentication system that limits where children can visit online.

The system is part of a series of proposals Brussels has put forward to make the net safer for children.

It says children are in danger of finding inappropriate material because ways to control where they can go are "fragmented".

More details of the authentication scheme will be published on 30 May.

In its draft proposals, the commission warns that neglecting protections for children could have a "profound impact" on European societies.

It says children's particular needs and vulnerabilities must be addressed so the net becomes a place of opportunities for them. It also notes that a uniform set of protections would help European businesses aiming services at children.

"Young people are particularly at ease with the use of the internet but they are still vulnerable to online threats," said Cecilia Malmstrom, European Commissioner for Home Affairs. "It is our duty as parents to keep our children safe - and this includes on the web."
(more at http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-17952259)

Above link is broken.

(06-05-2012 12:46 )arron88 Wrote:  Above link is broken.

Try this:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-17952259

Slightly off topic but of interest which is why I am posting here.

The Independent
Parliamentary Inquiry into
Online Child Protection has published its findings Report

Basically the recommend ISPs install internet porn filters that apply to every device in a property - computers, XBoxes, phones connected to the domestic network - until the ISP receives an opt out request.

Comments in the report include:

Quote:With no central point of management or control of the internet at global, regional or national level ...

Many feel that device-level filters are no longer offering sufficient protection for children online. Only a minority of parents use these filters and this number is falling.

the Government asked Reg Bailey of the Mothers’ Union to carry out research

ISPs currently offer their customers device-level filtering tools and internet safety education but the use of existing content filters, which by and large customers have to choose to install, update and maintain on each internet-enabled device in the home, has dropped 10 percentage points in the last three years and we are now at a point where almost six out of ten children can access the internet without filters in their homes.

Parents find device filters difficult to install and maintain, lack internet safety education and up-to-date information.

Recommendations are:
1. The Government should urgently review the implementation plans for “Active Choice” and press for an accelerated implementation timetable, more clarity on installation targets for all customers, and funding commitments from ISPs.
2. ISPs should provide better support for internet safety education and initiatives such as ParentPort and improve signposting for these services from their own web domains.
3. Government and industry representatives should draw up guidelines for improving the communication of existing internet safety settings, improving training for retailers, developing a family friendly kite-marking scheme for manufacturers and retailers and improving signposting to pre-installed security settings during device configuration.
4. ISPs should be tasked with rolling out single account network filters for domestic broadband customers that can provide one click filtering for all devices connected to a home internet connection within 12 months.
5. The Government should launch a formal consultation on the introduction of an Opt-In content filtering system for all internet accounts in the UK. The most effective way to reduce overall development cost and create the most flexible solution would be for ISPs to work together to develop a self-regulated solution.
6. Public Wi-Fi provision should also be filtered in this way otherwise home-based controls will be easily circumvented.
7. The Government should also seek backstop legal powers to intervene should the ISPs fail to implement an appropriate solution.
8. Finally, the Government should consider the merits of a new regulatory structure for online content, with one regulator given a lead role in the oversight and monitoring of internet content and in improving the dissemination of existing internet safety education materials and resources such as ParentPort.

There is a lively discussion or the Perry report so far as I can see.

If there's an opt-in for internet porn, why cannot there be an opt-in for full R18 on TV?

There is an "adult" opt-in, of course, for the subscription channels, but Ofcon continue to censor it because they don't like it.

If there's an opt-in for internet porn, why cannot there be an opt-in for full R18 on TV?

There is an "adult" opt-in, of course, for the subscription channels, but Ofcon continue to censor it because they don't like it.