From Tiger King to terrorism
The business of classifying publications has been completely turned on its head as the world moves deeper into the digital age, says New Zealand’s chief censor.
Physical media, like books and DVDs, have been on a steady decline since the mid-2000s, being displaced by online and digital material, David Shanks says.
Nearly half of all material that crossed the desks of the Office of Film and Literature Classification in the 12 months to October this year was computer or gaming related.
Classification office figures show that of 1275 publications appraised, there were 568 pieces of computer-based material submitted and 48 digital games.
The office also ruled on 202 films and trailers, and 280 DVDs in that period, while just two books or magazines were checked. The office still keeps track of VHS videos, of which none were seen.
‘‘There’s still a trickle of DVDs coming but that medium is in its sunset period.’’
Shanks said the rise of online and digital media has fast made the legislation under which they act outdated.
DVDs and the internet were still in development and not widely available when the Films, Videos, and Publications Classification Act was introduced in 1993, Shanks said, while online gaming and streaming platforms were an unforeseen development.
He said one of the office’s highest profile rulings in 2020 dealt with the Netflix series Tiger King. The popularity of the hit show during the Covid-19 lockdown lead to the office taking a closer look at the hit show. It worked with its Youth Advisory Panel to recommend the streaming platform add a note warning of suicide, violence, animal cruelty, drug use and offensive language, in addition to the 16-plus rating.
Of 388 publications excised or banned across all types of media, 278 involved sexual exploitation of children, and 40 involved the promotion of criminal acts or terrorism.
Shanks said online media had made objectionable material more accessible but New Zealand was in a position to counter online harm at home and overseas.
He said online sexual abuse material had long been on the radar of the police and other government organisations that collaborated with their overseas peers on reducing harm. While they were working to counter the promotion of extremist material, it was an evolving issue.
New Zealand’s experience and reaction to the Christchurch mosque shootings – in which the gunman’s video and manifesto were banned – put the country in the international spotlight.
‘‘We’re relatively small and have been right at the forefront of the impact [of a terrorist attack]. After the Christchurch Call, the world is quite interested in what we have to say in this space.’’
New Zealand was among an international community that was still coming to grips with how to deal with online harm, and positive steps were being made to develop policies to serve viewers well.
‘‘It’s a matter of making them work for New Zealanders,’’ Shanks said.