Woksters hatch a very clever plan to enable sensoring the internet;
OPINION: In terms of bureaucratic overreach, few rival that of Sejanus building statues to himself. He was Emperor Tiberius’ man in Rome, while the degenerate sovereign luxuriated on Capri and, left alone for too long, Sejanus believed himself impervious to supervision. He wasn’t, and his career was ended in a typically brutal Roman fashion. There are many similar examples in the two millennia since, where middling civil servants assume more power than is good for them. It is a classic principal-agent problem and we have had a perfect example this week in the Broadcasting Standards Authority (BSA).
But first, what is the BSA?
It was established in 1989 by legislation introduced by Richard Prebble, briefly minister of broadcasting. At the time, we had two television providers with some cable options and a clutch of radio stations.
Viewers could complain and the BSA would assess if the nebulous standards of “good taste and decency” were breached and impose fines if necessary.
BSA chief executive Stacey Wood said last week the watchdog had jurisdiction over online broadcasts.
Taxcindy must be pissed...not smart enough to have this idea cross her mind.
OPINION: In terms of bureaucratic overreach, few rival that of Sejanus building statues to himself. He was Emperor Tiberius’ man in Rome, while the degenerate sovereign luxuriated on Capri and, left alone for too long, Sejanus believed himself impervious to supervision. He wasn’t, and his career was ended in a typically brutal Roman fashion. There are many similar examples in the two millennia since, where middling civil servants assume more power than is good for them. It is a classic principal-agent problem and we have had a perfect example this week in the Broadcasting Standards Authority (BSA).
But first, what is the BSA?
It was established in 1989 by legislation introduced by Richard Prebble, briefly minister of broadcasting. At the time, we had two television providers with some cable options and a clutch of radio stations.
Viewers could complain and the BSA would assess if the nebulous standards of “good taste and decency” were breached and impose fines if necessary.
BSA chief executive Stacey Wood said last week the watchdog had jurisdiction over online broadcasts.
Taxcindy must be pissed...not smart enough to have this idea cross her mind.
