Broadcast indecency: should Big Brother be watching?

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Periodical article

Title:	Broadcast indecency: should Big Brother be watching?
Author:	Lötter, Sunette
Year:	2003
Periodical:	The Comparative and International Law Journal of Southern Africa
Volume:	36
Issue:	3
Pages:	346-364
Language:	English
Geographic term:	South Africa
Subjects:	freedom of speech media policy broadcasting
Abstract:	The regulators of broadcasting in South Africa, England and the United States have all attempted, with questionable success, to regulate broadcast indecency. In South Africa broadcasting is regulated by the Broadcasting Monitoring and Complaints Committee (BMCC) and the Broadcasting Complaints Commission of South Africa (BCCSA). The Codes of the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) and the BCCSA contain no reference to 'indecency'. Specific depictions of sexual conduct as described in the Code and explicit sexual conduct which degrades a person in the sense that it advocates a particular form of hatred based on gender, and constitutes incitement to cause harm, are prohibited. However, it is a moot point whether broadcast indecency ought to be regulated at all. Notes, ref., sum. [Journal abstract, edited]