1. Comparative MEDIA LAW Ghent University SESSION 8 Regulation, classification, rating and monitoring of audiovisual content in Europe Guest speaker: Inger Hoedt-Rasmussen Dirk VOORHOOF www.psw.ugent.be/dv www.psw.ugent.be/dv

2. A thrilling session on Sex & the City A programme for all ages ??? No chewing gum allowed

3. Your opinion? Total ban Cutting Rating Consumer information No intervention

4. Issues to be dealt with Pornography Sex Nudity Human dignity War Violence Disrespecting authorities Bad language Political propaganda Hate speech Drugs Alcohol Cigarettes Commercials Decency Religion Blasphemy Fast food

5. a talented group, who possesses new technology based competencies? a weak group with a specific need to be protected? a social problem? a treat to well established fundamental values? or a specific educational task? Do we regard children and teenagers as:

6. A global model ? From Censorship trough Rating towards Product information

7. Which media? Cinema film Video Computer games Television and radio Books Theater Paintings Music Internet (filtering, blocking)

8. How the rating/classifying is organised? State authority –Law –Department/Ministry of justice, culture, youth, social affairs, media -Danish Media Council for children and young people http://portal.medieraadet.dk/?lang=da http://portal.medieraadet.dk/?lang=da

9. How the rating/classifying is organised? Self-regulation –US, the MPAA film rating system, Movies Pictures Association of America, is rating a movie's suitability for certain audiences. It is one of various motion picture rating systems used to help patrons decide which movies may be appropriate for children and/or adolescents: http://www.mpaa.org/MPAAmovie'smotion picture rating systems http://www.mpaa.org/ –Germany: Freiwillige Selbstkontrolle der Filmwirtschaft FSK http://www.spio.de/index.asp?SeitID=2 http://www.spio.de/index.asp?SeitID=2 –PEGI, Pan European Game Information http://www.pegi.info/en/ http://www.pegi.info/en/

10. How the rating/classifying is organised? Co-regulation –Public/private, stakeholders involved, enforcement –Nicam – Kijkwijzer The Netherlands: http://www.kijkwijzer.nl/index.php? http://www.kijkwijzer.nl/index.php

11. How the rating/classifying is organised? Diversity of regulatory frameworks National approach See Comparative analysis 12 movies in Europe, May 2007 Ratings in 7 EU Countries http://www.kijkwijzer.nl/pagina.php?id=30?

12. PEGI rating Gambling Games that encourage or teach gambling Sex Game depicts nudity and/or sexual behaviour or sexual references Violence Game contains depictions of violence

13. PEGI rating Bad Language Game contains bad language Discrimination Game contains depictions of, or material which may encourage discrimination Drugs Game refers to or depicts the use of drugs Fear Game may be frightening or scary for young children

14. EU TV-Directive 1989/1997 Protection of minors (art. 22) - Absolute ban seriously damaging moral, physical, mental development of minors, esp. ! pornography ! gratuitous violence - Relative ban damaging (..) unless guarantees minors have no access- - time - technically encoded ! Warning message (visual or auditive)

15. TV and the protection of minors in EU: an illustration Sex & the City, 2007 On SBS – Vijf TV in Belgium Complaint by father of two young children Decision by Flemish Regulator of the Media = Flemish Media Authority (FMA)

16. Sex & the City, FMA 3 April 2007 Scenes harmful for development of sexual feelings of persons under 12, as sexuality is associated with pain and aggression. Sex & the City is rated + 12 by Kijkwijzer Nl. Shown until 20.00 p.m. also children younger than 12 are regularly, in the family circle, watching television. No auditory warning that next programme would be harmful for children.

17. A legal-sociological approach Competence Institutions Culture Context Market forces

18. That’s all Folks!