Censorship Media law

Outcomes Define the concept “censorship” Discuss the various forms of censorship Discuss the regulation of pornography in South Africa Discuss how indecent, obscene and pornographic matter is regulated in South Africa

What is censorship? The Oxford dictionary defines a censor as:

Censorship

Types of censorship State censorship – where the State imposes restrictions Self-regulation – where an individual or community or group imposes restrictions Prior restraint – the restriction of speech or expression by a Sate official before it enters the public domain

State censorship (Generally) no State censorship in SA Restriction imposed by State Freedom of expression constitutionally entrenched Balancing of interests Society dictates values and morals Child pornography (Generally) no State censorship in SA

Self-regulation Self censorship Used fairly extensively in South Africa Not subject to legal restraint (voluntary) Examples South African Press Code Code of Advertising Practice

Prior restraint Pre-publication checking of matter Undesirable as secretive, easy to remove anti-government opinions, heavy handed etc Only films subject to prior restraint in SA Film & Publications Board

South African approach Films etc – prior restraint Films and Publications Act 65 of 1996 Printed matter On complaint