Websites to get cinema-style ratings?
Posted: Sat Dec 27, 2008 6:10 am
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."
Cinema-style age-ratings could be imposed on websites under Government plans to crack down on "unacceptable" material. Skip related content
Related photos / videos
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."