Cabinet has approved the submission of the films and publications amendment bill which is guided by policy that has been criticised for seeking to curb internet freedoms. A cabinet statement released last week said the bill seeks to amend the films and publications act of 1996 by adapting it to technological advances.
These changes include catering for online and social media platforms “in order to protect children from being exposed to disturbing and harmful media content in all platforms (physical and online)”.
A draft policy drawn up by content classification body the Film and Publication Board (FPB) is expected to inform the bill.
Topics covered in the draft policy are preventing children from viewing, for example, pornography online. Hate speech and racist content have also been covered by the draft online policy.
“The bill strengthens the duties imposed on mobile networks and internet service providers to protect the public and children during usage of their services,” read a cabinet statement last week.
“The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa) will not issue licences or renewals without confirmation from the Film and Publication Board of full compliance with its legislation,” the statement added.
The FPB was not available for comment on what exactly is contained in the amendment bill.
Spokesperson for the FPB, Janine Raftopoulos, told Fin24 that the board is “still going through all the many submissions” regarding the online regulation policy.
“Once we go through those, then only will be able to put forward that bill to the parliamentary portfolio committee and then on to the minister (Faith Muthambi),” Raftopoulos told Fin24.
Gavin Davis, the Democratic Alliance (DA) shadow minister for communications, also told Fin24 that the amendment bill has yet to be gazetted and that the communications portfolio committee would still need to “deliberate on it and amend it” before it is signed into law.
