Websites to get cinema-style ratings?

[Nob3y]

Saw this on yahoo,seems the end is nigh????



Cinema-style age-ratings could be imposed on websites under Government plans to crack down on "unacceptable" material. Skip related content
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Websites to get cinema-style ratings?

Culture Secretary Andy Burnham said "clearer standards" are needed as to what can be displayed online.

He said it was his "absolutely categorical" view that there is material on the web - including beheadings - which should not be available to anyone.

Mr Burnham confirmed one of the proposals being considered by ministers to protect children from harmful material is the introduction of age-ratings for websites.

He said: "That would be an option. This is an area that is really now coming into full focus."

Another option said to be under consideration is a requirement on internet service providers to offer a service which would give access only to sites which are suitable for children.

Mr Burnham continued: "If you look back at the people who created the internet they talked very deliberately about creating a space that governments couldn't reach. I think we are having to revisit that stuff seriously now," he said.

"I think there is definitely a case for clearer standards online. You can still view content on the internet which I would say is unacceptable. You can view a beheading.

"There is content that should just not be available to be viewed. That is my view. Absolutely categorical. This is not a campaign against free speech, far from it; it is simply there is a wider public interest at stake when it involves harm to other people."

[one eyed jack]

Its business as usual for the UK porn business.



This seemed to quell the fear and paranoia surrounding the scheme at that time 6 months ago.

[JonnyHungwell]

What the government would like to do is somewhat irrelevant in the modern world - just like the Pope's views on gays, people just think 'shut up you silly old man and go away'. The government can bring in as many rules and regualtions as they like and people will just do whatever they like, it's very unlikely the two will coincide.

There are too many other important issues in the world to bother about trash like this.

[Peter]

No doubt its just another way to get another Taxation-by-fine system running.


The New Labour Motto "Where there's a fine, we'll invent a crime."

[jimslip]

You're bang on with this, yes the authorities dabbling with the idea of imposing a tax on us. The "Nanny state" just can't stand the internet running without their meddling.

I mean it would do wonders for your website, with an official declaration stating that in effect, "Some fucking, bigoted, busy-body has pawed through all the scenes and given it the OK for you to view!"

[blackjaques]

The internet, and its free sexuality, frightens the shit out of the (any) UK government. "No sex please, we're British" is their catchphrase.

[dynatech]

Sex is just a stick to beat us with - what they really want to prevent people from accessing is politically incorrect, informative stuff such as the 'Zeitgeist Addendum' video & suchlike - the war on terror is as much a 'war on truth' & the internet has been a major thorn in the side of the NWO people who seek to control. They couldn't give a toss about what people do sexually, but the ever-present threat of being labelled a pervert is certainly a good way of controlling those who step out of line

[one eyed jack]

We've been down this road already and the new scheme has been in place since June.

Its interesting that people should talk about it now but thats all it will ever be.... as always

I remember someone suggested everyone should get together with placards and march on the houses of parliament (yeah crazy idea that it was) but like a lot of other things we love to moan about we suddenly have meetings and other such pressing concerns that nothing is done about it and then its all too late.

Oh well..I guess this forum wouldnt be what it was without the moans and complaints eh?

[one eyed jack]

Johnny Hungwell wrote:

What the government would like to do is somewhat irrelevant in the modern world - just like the Pope's views on gays, people just think 'shut up you silly old man and go away'. The government can bring in as many rules and regualtions as they like and people will just do whatever they like, it's very unlikely the two will coincide.

There are too many other important issues in the world to bother about trash like this.




I wouldnt dismiss this subject as irrelevant in the modern world at all Johnny. I like porn as much as you might do but realise it has its time and place.

While it may be seen as a cynical ploy to obtain more tax, I fo rone can see the reason being to regulate rather than let run wild. Yes it is a form of control but the way the industry is going right now, this is not the only thing that will be regualted before long.

If anythign I predicted this was symptomatic of the new white paper that came in regarding broadcasting and new technologies (ie the internet) and the government are making sure its got some powers in place before someone gets on board and abuses it so it has powers to stop or convict those people of abusing new technology.

As for the rest of us porn buying folk, I doubt the government really give a hoot what you are wanking over as long as its not kids, corpses, animals and poo.

Do you have the right to watch those things? Hell yeah, but the model majority deem it wrong, so hell no so it reserves the right to deal with those people accordingly.

I hardly call that irrelevant.