Posted on 12/26/2008 4:30:12 PM PST by melt
Internet sites could be given cinema-style age ratings as part of a Government crackdown on offensive and harmful online activity to be launched in the New Year, the Culture Secretary says.
In an interview with The Daily Telegraph, Andy Burnham says he believes that new standards of decency need to be applied to the web. He is planning to negotiate with Barack Obamas incoming American administration to draw up new international rules for English language websites.
The Cabinet minister describes the internet as quite a dangerous place and says he wants internet-service providers (ISPs) to offer parents child-safe web services.
Giving film-style ratings to individual websites is one of the options being considered, he confirms. When asked directly whether age ratings could be introduced, Mr Burnham replies: Yes, that would be an option. This is an area that is really now coming into full focus.
ISPs, such as BT, Tiscali, AOL or Sky could also be forced to offer internet services where the only websites accessible are those deemed suitable for children.
Mr Burnham also uses the interview to indicate that he will allocate money raised from the BBCs commercial activities to fund other public-service broadcasting such as Channel Four. He effectively rules out sharing the BBC licence fee between broadcasters as others have recommended.
His plans to rein in the internet, and censor some websites, are likely to trigger a major row with online advocates who ferociously guard the freedom of the world wide web.
(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...
It's for the sake of the children & mankind...
Change you can believe in. BTT.
> ISPs, such as BT, Tiscali, AOL or Sky could also be forced to offer internet services where the only websites accessible are those deemed suitable for children.
Like bailing out a rowboat with a pitchfork.
Der Commissar!
Orwell just turned - again.
Quote from some years ago
Government departments are tombstones. The department of industry marks the grave of industry. The department of employment marks the grave of employment. The department of the environment marks the grave of the environment. And the department of education marks where the corpse of British education is buried. - TV series Yes, Prime MinisterThe UK now has a department of culture.
For “change”-— there should be new international rules for English language politicians. Maybe even a cinema-style rating system...
When people screamed for change, I wonder if this is what they had in mind?
This is an extremely low volume ping list. 6 per week max. To be added to or deleted from this ping list, please click one of the following:
Eric, you are a genius add me to your ping list or Eric, you are a jackass, take me off this ping list
____________________________________________________________________
Picture courtesy of unixfox. All rights reserved. Copyright MMVII. Any use of the pictures descriptions or accounts of this ping without the express written consent of unixfox, Eric Blair, or Major League Baseball is strictly prohibited. Some restrictions apply. Ping not available in all states. For erections lasting longer than four hours, call the Guiness Book of World Records. Use only as directed.
We the People Sheeple of the United States Nanny State, in Order to form a more perfect Union Socialist Utopia, establish Justice Socially engineer a country of non smoking, physically fit, teetotalers, insure domestic Tranquility Smoking bans in bars, limits on unhealthy food and social drinking, provide for the common defense Universal Healthcare, promote the general Welfare health of the population whether they like it or not, in order to save above mentioned Universal Healthcare entitlement program from bankruptcy, and secure the Blessings of Liberty Dependency to ourselves progressive liberals and our Posterity Hitler Youth who we brainwash through public school education, do ordain decree and establish this Constitution for the United States of America. Nanny State of Liberals.
Excellent! There are maybe 1000 movies a year and a billion websites a month. Somebody is going to be very busy.
The sad part is that I see some freepers who think this would be a good idea...
Members of the same species, seeking each other out for mating.
Amazing how quickly freedom dies.
Just wait until you have to get rated before your server is allowed to connect to anything.
Attacking the internet might just wake up a lot of lefty-thinking young people and infuse them with a hunger for liberty. This is where a lot of people live now and they’re not used to or accepting of restrictions.
I really wonder if anything could cure them from their apathy.
I won’t hold my breath.
Thanks for the ping!
WTH is a “culture secretary” and why do we have one?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.