BBFC to start classifying the web

ViSCeRaL

http://www.contractoruk.com/news/003313.html

Quote:

It has been in place since 1912, but the remit of the British Board of Film Classification is about to update for the 21st century - so it can classify internet content as well as cinema films.

Disclosures released last week under the Freedom of Information Act reportedly reveal cinema-style ratings could be at the gateways of online material as early as next month.

The system, which is likely to apply to material that would previously be delivered in physical film or DVD formats, represents the first time a British watchdog has tried to regulate online content.

But speaking last month, officials at the British Board of Film Classification said piloting ratings online, such as R18, did not mean it was “seeking an open-ended regulatory role” on the Web.

The ratings would apply to a range of audio-visual content, from family entertainment to adult titles, and could also cover online games, the BBFC said at the time.

Yesterday, the sex industry was reported to be backing an online version of R18, which normally applies only to material bought in sex shops or cinemas, according to The Sunday Telegraph.

The paper, which has seen details of the Board’s ratings system in letters to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, said the regulatory move is an attempt to protect children from hardcore porn and violence.

To this end, it is expected that porn and graphic material would be labelled unsuitable for children, and would-be viewers would need to verify their age.

Access to such adult material would reportedly be through a “landing page,” which like the BBFC’s ‘black card’ system would contain warnings before any of the content is accessible.

Surveys commissioned by the Board found 84% of Brits would like to see cinema-style ratings applied to film downloads – a move its surveys show would be welcomed by nine out of ten parents.

spudthedestroyer · **Posted:** Mon Jun 25, 2007 9:59 pm **Post subject:**

I refuse to support the system, it is utter madness and I deem hhah free from such insanity :lol:

Surveys commissioned by Dead-Donkey found 84% of Brits think their survey was utter tripe.

Slayer · **Posted:** Mon Jun 25, 2007 11:03 pm **Post subject:**

The idea is kind of insane. I believe countries as China even, which have loads of control over the acces to internet for their people, are willing to open it up more. This the other way around. How do they expect to take control over all sites that might maybe contain a little piece of stuff they don't like?

I'm very happy we don't have a BBFC overhere, our "board" is also silly, but much more lenient.

TaKYoN · **Posted:** Mon Jun 25, 2007 11:17 pm **Post subject:**

WTF?!?!?

ViSCeRaL · **Posted:** Mon Jun 25, 2007 11:20 pm **Post subject:**

Slayer wrote:

I believe countries as China even, which have loads of control over the acces to internet for their people, are willing to open it up more.

http://www.greatfirewallofchina.org/test/

See how open china is. :wink:

Dead Donkey is banned in China. :lol:

PC_Arcade · **Posted:** Mon Jun 25, 2007 11:22 pm **Post subject:**

Quote:

84% of Brits would like to see cinema-style ratings applied to film downloads – a move its surveys show would be welcomed by nine out of ten parents.

Eh??? WTF is that meaningless statistic?? 90% of parents, but 84% of Brits?

Fuck 'em

spudthedestroyer · **Posted:** Mon Jun 25, 2007 11:59 pm **Post subject:**

ViSCeRaL wrote:

Slayer wrote:

I believe countries as China even, which have loads of control over the acces to internet for their people, are willing to open it up more.

http://www.greatfirewallofchina.org/test/

See how open china is. :wink:

Dead Donkey is banned in China. :lol:

lol, you know that site always returns "this site is blocked" right?

You can really test a chinese firewall block by using a chinese proxy.

Slayer · **Posted:** Tue Jun 26, 2007 3:49 pm **Post subject:**

Guys, I wasn't saying China is open at this very moment, I was only saying that they are willing to open up a little bit more. Today (or yesterday, don't kill me over it) a new law was passed covering freedom of journalism and it looks like it's less repressive than people expected. Even if that has nothing to do with internet control, it is yet another example of China modernising pace by pace while the UK is leaping backwards in time like they are actually missing the Middle Ages.

TaKYoN · **Posted:** Tue Jun 26, 2007 6:23 pm **Post subject:**

Things are going crazy here in the UK, mostly political correctness ATM. It is insane the things that are happening here, TBH alot of the time it feels like I am walking on eggshells trying not to accidentally offend some Indian or African, or even worse, offend someones religion.

Don't get me wrong, like I have said before, I am not in the slightest bit racist, but it is starting to take th piss now.

It seems that they are just inventing laws and guidelines for the fun of it now, it really is getting pathetic.

ViSCeRaL · **Posted:** Tue Jun 26, 2007 7:47 pm **Post subject:**

spudthedestroyer wrote:

lol, you know that site always returns "this site is blocked" right?

I was starting to come round to that way of thinking. :lol:

GrindCallus · **Posted:** Tue Jun 26, 2007 9:45 pm **Post subject:**

Gee and I thought Americans were full of themselves. The Brits should concentrate on getting hotter chicks into their feeble porn industry, which is a much more serious dilemma. (<=joke) Not blocking websites, that is for tech-savvy parents to do. I am all for protecting children's well-being and metal-state, but why do they wanna rate everything? I guess 'mericoens do to LOL.

At least the only problem with film ratings and the MPAA is that ratings such as NC-17, X, etc and the ERSB ratings AO, is that no one will put money into such a limited release, which is only limited because theaters/retailers may choose not to show/carry the film/game based on the assumption kids can't or won't be able to spend their money. Moral values? Phfff its all aboput potentially lost revenue when it comes to films and games, and it hurts filmakers/gamemakers who just wanna create and portray without restriction.

But this does seem to be about moral control rather than lost revenue. And IIRC aren't there already internet 'watchdogs' that label and/or creta lists of websites so parents know which to block home access to? Thats a fair way to do it. The lists for porn alone would be massive LOL. But this is just another excuse for the big G to Mommy our minds, again let the parents do it, it is their responsibility the lazy fucks!!!! :beerchug:

Slayer · **Posted:** Wed Jun 27, 2007 11:31 am **Post subject:**

I still have this practical question, which I ask because I think it's quite impossible: How do they expect to take control over all sites that might maybe contain a little piece of stuff they don't like?

spudthedestroyer · **Posted:** Wed Jun 27, 2007 8:45 pm **Post subject:**

they don't, what the mean is say... screen-select stream rental movies of some description from their site. This is a movie, put on the net. Similarly, the xbox in the states has a content download service where you download HD movies. I believe the announcement is more aimed at that.

Slayer · **Posted:** Wed Jun 27, 2007 8:56 pm **Post subject:**

Ah, OK. So actually they're doing what they have been doing for years, but now they're also active on the net. Right?

BBFC to start classifying the web

Who is online