NakedNews outrages FPB

In its statement, the Film and Publication Board (FPB) says it views the upcoming launch, in the next two days, of locally produced NakedNews, as a serious risk to children due to the high possibility of premature exposure of children to adult material. At a mere R10 subscription fee per week via cell phones and online, children can access the material distributed through NakedNews. The FPB is outraged at the level of ease at which NakedNews has made it possible for children to be able to consume this material.

“Recent media reports have indicated that online platforms such as Mxit and Youtube are joining the fight against posting of indecent and illicit materials on their platforms. This is therefore an abomination of the inroads being made in the protection of children from all forms of abuse and exploitation,” said Yoliswa Makhasi, the Film and Publication Board CEO.

According to Section 24 of the Films and Publications Act, owners and operators of all telecommunication channels targeted at and used by children must be responsible for the content created and distributed within those mediums. They (owners and operators) are required to take the necessary steps in ensuring that children are not exposed to indecent content. “We therefore call upon all telecommunications operators, including broadcasters to examine and ensure that all reasonable protective measures are implemented in accordance with the law”, says Makhasi.

NakedNews claims ‘contradictory and illogical ‘

In its statement, the FPB says it also finds the claims of NakedNews contradictory and unsatisfactory.

• ”The programme as reported is not pornographic but will be hosted by presenters who ‘strip' naked while reading the headlines, we find this highly inappropriate and a ploy to expose children to pornography so as to increase subscriber base;
  
• ”Their claim that South African's ‘have become liberal in their thinking' so as to justify this initiative is contradictory and illogical considering that it comes about hardly a month after DSTV reported that a significant number of their subscribers were opposed to the establishment of an adult channel;
  
• ”According to the Film and Publication Board classification guidelines, nudity is a classifiable element and refers to the deliberate ‘flaunting of a person's sexuality' or the undue exposure of a person's intimate parts. In addition once there is full frontal and lingering close-ups on genitals, the material would be classified for persons over the age of 18 years. Given the above, there is clearly a glaring contradiction and therefore the FPB undertakes to investigate any regulatory non-compliance.

The board is urging parents and care givers to monitor their children's activities on the internet and cell phones. It is also urging the public to report any child pornography activities to the police or the FPB on 0800 148 148. The website www.fpbprochild.org.za is also available for online reporting of any accidentally discovered sexual abuse images.