Privatizing Censorship
January 28, 2002 6:29 PM Subscribe
Privatizing Censorship "The Official Secrets Act (in the UK) will soon be unenforceable, and the internet already makes absolute control of information impossible, says Northern Irish web journalist Newton Emerson. What worries him is the changing nature of censorship. Over the past 20 years, mostly by accident, he argues, censorship has been privatised." And Emerson should know: his satires have caused an uproar in Northern Ireland.
"Worst of all, some people even assume that they have A Right Not To Be Offended."
Welcome to America, Newton. Bet you didn't even realize you'd emigrated, did you?
posted by mr_crash_davis at 8:43 PM on January 28, 2002
Welcome to America, Newton. Bet you didn't even realize you'd emigrated, did you?
posted by mr_crash_davis at 8:43 PM on January 28, 2002
Wonderful stuff, full of quoteworthy gems. Thanks, brookish.
posted by rory at 2:35 AM on January 29, 2002
posted by rory at 2:35 AM on January 29, 2002
Broadcast material is also, it seems, potentially much more 'offensive' than newsprint, and the BSC Code of Practice goes on at some length about the importance of "taste and decency". This is why the BBC can show footage of a woman being shot in the head in a Kabul football stadium, but can never, ever, show somebody kicking a dog.
Sadly, depicting violence against women is fine in American media, too.
posted by Carol Anne at 5:32 AM on January 29, 2002
Sadly, depicting violence against women is fine in American media, too.
posted by Carol Anne at 5:32 AM on January 29, 2002
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posted by bragadocchio at 8:28 PM on January 28, 2002