Home Gaming Hey FPB, keep your hands off our internet!

Hey FPB, keep your hands off our internet!

4 min read
51

Censorship

I love being a South African. Our food is magnificent, our various cultures kick ass and we’ve got a climate that other nations can only dream about. We’ve also got a certain level of freedom to express ourselves, a basic right that was fought for decades ago in a hard battle. And what better tool to use, than the internet. Not only have we got a great level of press freedom, we’ve also got a responsible press environment that has taken full advantage of the world wide web. And of course, that freedom is once again under threat.

And that’s all thanks to the Film and Publication Board. Right now, the FPB is readying a proposal that would allow the board to effectively police and censor any and all online content. That’s everything from Facebook pages, news websites and blogs, thanks to an incredibly vaguely defined Draft Online Regulation Policy document that was gazetted on Wednesday, 4 March 2015. It’s also a document that is full of holes and various typos.

According to the document, “Any person who intends to distribute any film, game, or certain publication in the Republic of South Africa shall first comply with section 18(1) of the [1996 Films and Publications] Act by applying, in the prescribed manner, for registration as film or game and publications distributor.” According to the FPB, that means that just about everybody on the local net would have to apply and pay for a digital publisher’s online distribution agreement. Once said license was acquired and subscribed to, then any and all content would have to first be submitted to the FPB before it could be published.

Because the wording for the draft policy is so vague, this would cover things like Facebook posts, YouTube videos and yes – even the posts you see on this very site. It’s just so worryingly open to abuse.

You don’t have to be a genius to realise that this is pretty much a form of premature censorship then.

Censorship

This policy would also allow the FPB to “dispatch classifiers to the distributors’ premises for the purposes of classifying digital content.” Distributors would have to “ensure that the work of classifiers takes place unhindered and without interference.” That means that FPB agents could come and knock on your door and be allowed to inspect your content in a gross abuse of power. The FPB argues that this is to ensure that children are protected from pornographic content, a worthwhile cause, but there are far more effective solutions present with which to fight that good fight. However, that is not a battle that should be waged when it undermines our constitution as well.

Whatever the FPB has planned, it’s also an idea that will be a massive waste of taxpayer money to enforce and police. With the entire point of the internet being that content can be posted as soon as it is needed, it’s a policy that will severely harm the news as the FPB clearly does not understand how the internet works. And with stiff opposition already making itself heard, it’s an act that poses the danger of criminalising citizens, even though this would be at odds with Section 16 (1b) in the Bill of Rights.

So what can you do about this?

Censorship

Plenty, actually. The most important thing right now, is to make your voice heard. The Right 2 Know organization is more than ready to fight back, but they’re going to need help. You can stop the FPB from trying to be a legislative body and remind them that they are only meant to suggest guidelines for content, by doing something as simple as tweeting #HandsOffOurInternet.


Let your voice be heard, say it loud and say it proud. I cannot stress enough just how important it is to not see the FPB given such authority, which borders on Apartheid levels of censorship. The consequences could be catastrophic, and it’s up to us to remind the government that they are meant to serve us, not themselves.

Last Updated: March 11, 2015

51 Comments

  1. Gavin Mannion

    March 11, 2015 at 11:04

    This is utter bullshit

    Reply

    • Derrich Schleich

      March 11, 2015 at 11:38

      in the future : ” Excuse me sir, do you have a licence for that comment?”
      Will we be fined if we post something without a licence?
      This is crappy O_O

      Reply

      • HvR

        March 11, 2015 at 11:43

        Do not forget the registration for being an commentator.
        Certificate for paid comment review.
        And proof that your comment has been micro-dotted.

        Reply

  2. Jaded_Reprobate

    March 11, 2015 at 11:06

    This doesn’t surprise me…. nothing in this twisted society of ours surprises me anymore… especially considering how corrupt our politicians are… and that is sad

    Reply

  3. Brandon van Reenen

    March 11, 2015 at 11:08

    Pretty much…

    Reply

    • Kensei Seraph

      March 11, 2015 at 12:22

      Or because of Telkom or Eskom.

      Reply

      • Norm

        March 11, 2015 at 12:55

        Eskom is basically a government entity, isn’t it?
        Not sure about Telkom.

        Reply

        • Kensei Seraph

          March 11, 2015 at 13:21

          Both are, although I think Telkom opened itself to outside investors a few years ago.

          Reply

  4. Geoffrey Tim

    March 11, 2015 at 11:11

    Vague, wishy washy horseshit. As it is, the draft means nothing – but if it were passed, it would be a pure vehicle for censorship. Fuck. THAT.

    Reply

    • Loftus

      March 11, 2015 at 11:30

      The proposed bill is unconstitutional and the fools that are drafting it is gonna get a moerse pakslae if they get taken to the constitutional court

      Reply

      • HeatPhoenix

        March 11, 2015 at 15:24

        I love Afrikaans. I’m Dutch but it’s so much fun to read. pakslae being “pak slaag” in Dutch.

        Reply

  5. Hammersteyn

    March 11, 2015 at 11:12

    Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand Tweet. I’ve made the world a better place.

    Reply

  6. Blood Emperor Trevor

    March 11, 2015 at 11:18

    I’m sick of this censorship trope – it’s “for the children”. It’s not. It’s a pathetic attempt to control information and restrict it to an “approved” or “normal” message. And it’s so pernicious because when you disagree with the action taken “in the name of the children”, you’re suddenly some kind of monster.

    My life is not ruled by what may affect some precious little snowflake’s eyes. I agree completely that there’s content not applicable for children and that there needs to be some way of either restricting or monitoring access by minors, but censoring the free flow of information with “what about the children?!?!” No.

    Reply

    • Gavin Mannion

      March 11, 2015 at 11:21

      In unrelated news.. I hate the word trope

      Reply

      • Hammersteyn

        March 11, 2015 at 11:30

        Sounds like a vegetable.

        Reply

        • Loftus

          March 11, 2015 at 11:31

          trope is a type of fish hammersteyn buddy

          Reply

          • Hammersteyn

            March 11, 2015 at 11:37

            LOL oops, but It’s not red meat so it might as well be a vegetable 😛

          • Norm

            March 11, 2015 at 12:54

            Amen to that.

      • Admiral Chief

        March 11, 2015 at 11:31

        *makes mental note for future troping

        Reply

    • FreddyBear

      March 11, 2015 at 11:28

      How do they not get how transparent their attempts at keeping people in the dark are, it’s basically because informed people are people who can choose….

      Reply

  7. Guild

    March 11, 2015 at 11:22

    Policing the Internet? Ya, good luck with that

    Reply

  8. Hammersteyn

    March 11, 2015 at 11:24

    But weren’t things better during Apartheid?
    *Runs!

    Reply

    • Dutch Matrix

      March 11, 2015 at 11:25

      Some jokes are not meant to be made… And coming from me, that’s saying something…

      Reply

      • Hammersteyn

        March 11, 2015 at 11:25

        Yeah, coming from you that’s saying tons. Apologies.

        Reply

        • Sir GIF Sexy

          March 11, 2015 at 11:41

          I am OFFENDED!… Give me your Phantom Blade to say soz.

          Reply

    • Sageville

      March 11, 2015 at 11:50

      How about NO.

      Reply

      • Hammersteyn

        March 11, 2015 at 12:16

        Yeah it wasn’t. At all!

        Reply

    • Kensei Seraph

      March 11, 2015 at 12:18

      I remember reading an article last year saying the level of education actually was better back then.

      Reply

      • Gavin Mannion

        March 11, 2015 at 12:19

        let’s not go down this conversation path… it ends in tears for everyone and has NOTHING to do with games, internet or enertainment in general

        Reply

        • Sgt. M

          March 11, 2015 at 12:21

          ” enertainment ” sounds American

          Reply

      • Hammersteyn

        March 11, 2015 at 12:53

        And we had electricity 😛 But in all seriousness. The country was better off after the end of Apartheid…. Too bad the wheel’s coming round……

        Reply

  9. Sir GIF Sexy

    March 11, 2015 at 11:28

    Screw this. I’ll start my own South Africa! With blackjack and hookers!… You know what? Forget the blackjack.

    Reply

    • Deceased

      March 11, 2015 at 11:33

      One does not simply forget the BlackJack. Its Black Ace of Spades suits the game-mechanics perfectly. There is beauty there that borders on art, and the dealer is ever watchful. It is a test of skills, riddled with numbers and cards and luck, the very air you breathe is electric. Not with ten thousand men could you do this. It is folly.

      So I suggest you introduce more blackjack and more hookers to this new South Africa…

      Reply

  10. Gary

    March 11, 2015 at 11:42

    I load whatever Just proxy it FPB can go and suck my Di*K !

    Reply

  11. SargonTheBatpandaOfAkkad

    March 11, 2015 at 11:51

    Good luck to the poor fools that get assigned reddit as their policing district. 😛

    Reply

    • Norm

      March 11, 2015 at 12:52

      HAHA!

      Reply

  12. BurnZ

    March 11, 2015 at 11:55

    This is frikking shocking! I can hardly see this going the right route with the responsibility being given to a person / group that understands what they are doing, implementing measures in the correct way so its not just interfere / delay and censor to what their personal / political views and desires are . What I really hope won’t happen is “lets control this thing called the interweb, and flog everyone for money! Fire pits all round FOR EVERYONE!”. I can see some relative to a political member making a lot of money, and that it will be to our expense as TAX payers and uses of media across the web. Or i could be wrong, hope im wrong

    Reply

  13. Devon Stanton

    March 11, 2015 at 11:57

    Have you tried making contact with the FPB?

    Reply

    • Sageville

      March 11, 2015 at 12:10

      Their twitter handle is @FPB_ZA.

      I’ve expressed my disstain already.

      Reply

    • Geoffrey Tim

      March 11, 2015 at 12:26

      It’s not like they need to confirm or deny anything. The draft policy has been gazetted, and is available from the FPB themselves.

      http://www.fpb.org.za/profile-fpb/legislation1/514-draft-online-regulation-policy-2014/file

      Reply

      • Devon Stanton

        March 11, 2015 at 14:43

        Yeah I see that, but I feel like we need a human from the department to shed some light on the accusations brought onto them have any substance. We’ve only interpreted what’s being said it would be nice if we can have clarity from a FPB directive to understand their objectives.

        Also I think just letting them know that a fuss is being kicked around, you’d hope would make them think twice about what they’re doing.

        I just think they’re bored.

        Reply

  14. hairyknees

    March 11, 2015 at 11:58

    O_o

    Reply

  15. Kensei Seraph

    March 11, 2015 at 12:12

    Seems like they could do with having some sense smacked into them. Repeatedly.
    http://i1.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/original/000/662/419/184.gif

    Reply

  16. Viking Of Science

    March 11, 2015 at 12:13

    This s the type of thing that’d make me fling poo at a statue, and punch a tv producer.

    Reply

  17. Aries

    March 11, 2015 at 12:14

    Sounds like what the ANC tried at the SONA with blocking the signal

    Reply

  18. Kradenko

    March 11, 2015 at 12:35

    This will be ignored just like everything else in this country. If you can commit murder and get away with a R500 fine then this is irrelevant.

    Reply

  19. Kromas Votes LAG WCMovie Event

    March 11, 2015 at 12:39

    Every single time I read this article I only see incompetence. They have a better chance getting an E-toll payment from me than restricting what I do online.

    Reply

  20. Ryanza

    March 11, 2015 at 12:49

    What would Ryanza say? Not anymore. Fuck the trolls.

    Reply

  21. Jonah Cash

    March 11, 2015 at 16:02

    You all seem to forget that these idiots pass laws almost weekly that no one knows about!! They passed a law at the start of Feb that everything that is being transported has to have a proof of weight and it is the owner of the shipment that has to provide that to the transporter… Now the problem with this is that there are a hell of a lot of things we transport that isn’t weighed before it is transported, example: Sand next to the road. Who is going to pay for a scale to stand next to every road that is being built or destroyed?
    So my point is: Don’t stress about laws they implement because they have no idea how to implement or police these laws!! How many people will have to work at the FPB for them to police the Net in SA? 10-15 million… we can’t even pay the assholes in government as is!! So everyone just relax!!

    Reply

  22. Gr8_Balls_o_KFM_Fire

    March 11, 2015 at 17:01

    *#%+$&÷€÷¥&:,#(×€€% ¥×9025&#&; £÷

    There I said it

    Reply

  23. Ghost In The Rift

    March 11, 2015 at 21:30

    Once the government hears how many cash this will rake in its pretty much over for the internet in SA, aren’t they doing it in North Korea?

    Reply

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