ONLINE CONTENT REGULATION IN SA 
Regulatory trends and insights 
DENISE FOUCHE 
ENDCODER/ ENDCODE.ORG
CONTEXT: 
Trends in Online Content Regulation 
Social Media 
Digital Media in Africa 
Net Neutrality 
The FPB Regulation of Online Content
REGULATING ONLINE CONTENT: 
MESSENGER AND METHOD
Monetising attention 
“As wearable technology becomes ubiquitous in 2014, the amount of data created 
will provide a treasure trove of insights for marketers. Not only does it let 
marketers know where their customers are but when and how fast. Obviously 
there is a huge risk here given the sensitivity of the data but the trick here 
is for marketers to provide the right value in exchange for this invaluable 
data.” Aaron Strout, Managing Director at W2O Group, co-author of Location-Based Marketing for 
Dummies 
So much content shared today is private, and it often disappears, so marketers aren’t readily 
able to track and target such consumers. Expect marketers to explore new, creative ways of 
reaching consumers who prioritize privacy. 
David Berkowitz, Chief Marketing Officer of MRY 
We already know that we don’t search for content now, content finds you. In 2014, 
we’re going to start seeing how brands and products find you. 
Ragy Thomas, CEO and founder of Sprinklr
New approaches needed 
• Number of nations implementing regulatory measures is increasing. Google : more 
than 25 governments have blocked its service since its inception, especially after 2002 
• Increased regulation driven by privacy concerns and controlling “problematic” content 
• Lack of industry consultation when proposing specialist legislation 
http://www.slideshare.net/wenwenqi/internet-content-regulation-in-2010
International developments 
• Privacy imperatives: 
• Online behavioural advertising 
• Awareness of data being used for marketing purposes 
• Right to be forgotten 
• Silent tracking: Device fingerprinting and cookies consent 
• Real Time Bidding systems: right commercial communication to the right 
person at the right time through the right device 
• Applying approaches to indecent content vs extreme content 
• 4 UK ISPs agreed to a system of filters for websites espousing extremist views 
= automating the human understanding of context around words 
• Pending legislation (US) 
• Do-Not-Track Online Act of 2013 
• Online Communications and Geolocation Protection Act
TARGETTING CONSUMERS. 
WEBSITES. SOCIAL MEDIA
Websites. Social Media 
• Responsible data usage 
• EMOTIONAL CONTAGION. FaceBook’s Mood Experiment : 
manipulation of 689 000 users’ homepages 
• Electronic Privacy Information Centre files with the FTC (US) 
• FB under a 20-year consent decree from FTC to protect user 
privacy after findings of violations in 2012 
“Facebook’s failure to adequately disclose that it shared consumer data 
with third-party researchers constitutes a deceptive act or practice in 
violation of Section 5(a) of the FTC Act. Facebook has violated Count I of its 
2012 Consent Order with the FTC and is subject to FTC enforcement in 
Federal district court.”
Websites. Social Media 
• Facebook and Twitter instructed by Information Commissioner’s Office (UK) to 
make data collection and usage practices clearer to members: 
• Tick-box = informed consent with regard to varied ways data is being used by 
by websites and apps? 
• Reasonable reader of privacy policy 
• Call on governments to set standards which organisations can sign up to, 
promising to explain how they use personal data in clear, concise and simple 
terms. 
• ICO’s global survey of more than 1200 mobile apps found 85% failed to explain 
how they were collecting, using and disclosing users’ personal information
To read or not to read?
Websites. Social Media 
• Enforceability of Terms of Service agreements: 
• Right to modify terms at any time and impose new or additional terms 
• Continued use = compliance with contract 
• EU enforceability of conditions without notification 
• Notice has to be given and consumer must have a choice to cancel if terms 
are no longer acceptable 
• Heavy burden on the consumer 
• Hidden unfair clauses likely to be deemed unfair 
• Unusual or suprising terms to be pointed out specifically
DIGITAL MEDIA IN AFRICA
Doing Digital Media in Africa 
• Demise of print 
• New platforms; new opportunities 
• Challenges for Africa: 
• Infrastructure 
• Slow internet connections 
• Low multimedia skills 
• Weak technological equipment 
• Advantages 
• Opportunity to learn from others’ mistakes 
• Use what is working and develop it further 
• Introduce useful methods used by other African countries 
• Journalism’s meaning, identity and purpose in the digital era
Doing Digital Media in Africa 
Current representation Electronic Transactions Data Protection Cybercrime (Computer Crime) 
Botswana Draft (Under Review)  
Ghana    
Kenya  Draft Draft 
Lesotho Draft Draft Draft 
Malawi None None None 
Mauritius    
Mozambique None None None 
Namibia Draft Draft Draft 
Nigeria Draft Draft Draft 
South Africa    
Swaziland None None None 
Tanzania Draft Draft Draft 
Uganda  None  
Zambia  None  
Zimbabwe None  None 
Cote d’Ivoire    
Congo None None None 
Angola None  None 
Gabon -  None 
Rwanda  Partial/Draft  
Ethiopia Draft None - 
Source: EndCode Executive Brief
NET NEUTRALITY
Net Neutrality 
What kind of web do we want? 
• Net neutrality essentially prevents ISPs favouring one kind of internet traffic over 
another 
• It forbids telecomms companies from blocking websites or providing priority to 
certain content providers (usually for a fee) 
• The Internet and the World Wide Web have been the source of rapid technological 
innovation because they are structured in a neutral way 
• New entrants 
• Easy access to online resources 
• If an ISP can pick its content providers and subsidise the data costs for that content 
• It becomes harder for new entrants to come into the market 
• Stifles innovation 
• Stifles free expression
Net Neutrality 
The Situation in the U.S. 
• South African stage of development with regard to net neutrality is different to the 
U.S. 
• Telecomms companies in the US are trying to get laws passed so that they can 
charge online content providers fees to make those provider’s sites faster on their 
networks for their users. 
• Big players like Netflix can afford to do this 
• What effect will this have on small/new players? 
• President Obama has written to the FCC asking them to protect Net Neutrality by 
classifying the Internet as a “Utility” and making it subject to all rules that apply to 
a “Utility” 
• Some net neutrality supporters believe this is not the right way to keep the 
net neutral 
• The decision is essentially up to the FCC
IAB Online Content Regulation: Trends
REGULATING CONTENT: 
THE FILM & PUBLICATIONS BOARD
The Film & Publications Board Regulation 
of Online Content 
26 March 2013 the Chairperson of the Film and Publications Board, Thoko presented 
the Board’s Strategic Plan for the Fiscal Years 2013/14 – 2017/18 to the 
Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs. 
• Effective and visible monitoring of industry throughout the entire value chain (content 
creators, producers and distributors of films, publications and games) for the 
protection of children and adults through information; 
• Effective and innovative regulation of the content distributed on online, mobile and 
related platforms for the protection of children and adults through information. 
• The Strategic Plan states that the FPB has established itself as the “authority in 
classification” and that its mandate (derived from the Film and Publications Act) is to 
regulate the creation, production and distribution of films, games and certain publications. 
• FPB’s mandate to regulate content at the creation stage extends the FPB’s powers to 
determine the nature of the content published on various platforms. This conflicts with 
fundamental constitutional rights, namely the freedom of expression (s16) and the freedom 
of trade, occupation and profession (s22).
The Film & Publications Board Regulation 
of Online Content 
STRATEGIC OUTCOME 1 
• Effective and visible monitoring of industry throughout the entire value chain. 
• Apply generic regulation to online publications and problematically require the 
re‐ordering of the natural tendencies that prevail in that sector. 
• Media creators, be it radio, video, magazines or newspapers (in print and 
online), subscribe to processes and forms of industry regulation specifically 
tailored to the nature of the publishing platform. 
• Content creation is not necessarily in the hands of media producers as 
traditionally understood? 
STRATEGIC OUTCOME 2 
• Effective and innovative regulation of the content distributed on online, mobile and 
related platforms. 
• Inadequate consideration of the nature of content that is distributed on these 
platforms.
The Film & Publications Board Regulation 
of Online Content 
THE FILMS AND PUBLICATIONS ACT 
Publication 
• The object of the Act: regulate the creation, production, possession, and 
distribution of films, games and certain publications by means of 
classification, the imposition of age restrictions, and giving of consumer 
advice. 
• The concept of “publication” is broadly defined in the Act and includes “any 
message or communication, including a visual presentation, placed on any 
distributed network, including but not confined to the Internet”. 
• This broad definition does not consider the logistics, nature of, and technical 
processes required to publish content on the Internet. The Act does not 
sufficiently make provision for the variety of “publication” that occurs 
online.
The Film & Publications Board Regulation 
of Online Content 
THE FILMS AND PUBLICATIONS ACT 
Publication 
• Is personal commentary to be considered publication? 
• The Act does not take into account the nature of social media commentary 
nor does it consider that such commentary may well be strategically created 
or posted for commercial purposes. 
• Blogs, tweets, Facebook updates, live‐streaming of video and radio 
content.
Pria Chetty 
Pria.chetty@endcode.org 
endcode.org 
THANKS, QUESTIONS? 
Denise Fouche 
denise.fouche@endcode.org 
endcode.org
References 
• http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-22772321 
• http://www.businessinsider.com/president-obama-thinks-the-internet-should-be-a-utility-2014- 
11 
• http://www.pmg.org.za/report/20130326‐government‐printing‐works‐film‐and‐publication‐boar 
d‐201314‐strategic 
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Net_neutrality 
• http://www.cyber‐rights.org/documents/clsr17_5_01.pdf 
• http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/nov/28/social-networks-personal-data-mps 
• http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2118688/PayPal-agreement-longer-Hamlet-iTunes-beats- 
Macbeth.html 
• http://www.slideshare.net/wenwenqi/internet-content-regulation-in-2010 
• http://www.economist.com/news/special-report/21574634-chinas-model-controlling-internet-being- 
adopted-elsewhere-each-their-own

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IAB Online Content Regulation: Trends

  • 1. ONLINE CONTENT REGULATION IN SA Regulatory trends and insights DENISE FOUCHE ENDCODER/ ENDCODE.ORG
  • 2. CONTEXT: Trends in Online Content Regulation Social Media Digital Media in Africa Net Neutrality The FPB Regulation of Online Content
  • 3. REGULATING ONLINE CONTENT: MESSENGER AND METHOD
  • 4. Monetising attention “As wearable technology becomes ubiquitous in 2014, the amount of data created will provide a treasure trove of insights for marketers. Not only does it let marketers know where their customers are but when and how fast. Obviously there is a huge risk here given the sensitivity of the data but the trick here is for marketers to provide the right value in exchange for this invaluable data.” Aaron Strout, Managing Director at W2O Group, co-author of Location-Based Marketing for Dummies So much content shared today is private, and it often disappears, so marketers aren’t readily able to track and target such consumers. Expect marketers to explore new, creative ways of reaching consumers who prioritize privacy. David Berkowitz, Chief Marketing Officer of MRY We already know that we don’t search for content now, content finds you. In 2014, we’re going to start seeing how brands and products find you. Ragy Thomas, CEO and founder of Sprinklr
  • 5. New approaches needed • Number of nations implementing regulatory measures is increasing. Google : more than 25 governments have blocked its service since its inception, especially after 2002 • Increased regulation driven by privacy concerns and controlling “problematic” content • Lack of industry consultation when proposing specialist legislation http://www.slideshare.net/wenwenqi/internet-content-regulation-in-2010
  • 6. International developments • Privacy imperatives: • Online behavioural advertising • Awareness of data being used for marketing purposes • Right to be forgotten • Silent tracking: Device fingerprinting and cookies consent • Real Time Bidding systems: right commercial communication to the right person at the right time through the right device • Applying approaches to indecent content vs extreme content • 4 UK ISPs agreed to a system of filters for websites espousing extremist views = automating the human understanding of context around words • Pending legislation (US) • Do-Not-Track Online Act of 2013 • Online Communications and Geolocation Protection Act
  • 8. Websites. Social Media • Responsible data usage • EMOTIONAL CONTAGION. FaceBook’s Mood Experiment : manipulation of 689 000 users’ homepages • Electronic Privacy Information Centre files with the FTC (US) • FB under a 20-year consent decree from FTC to protect user privacy after findings of violations in 2012 “Facebook’s failure to adequately disclose that it shared consumer data with third-party researchers constitutes a deceptive act or practice in violation of Section 5(a) of the FTC Act. Facebook has violated Count I of its 2012 Consent Order with the FTC and is subject to FTC enforcement in Federal district court.”
  • 9. Websites. Social Media • Facebook and Twitter instructed by Information Commissioner’s Office (UK) to make data collection and usage practices clearer to members: • Tick-box = informed consent with regard to varied ways data is being used by by websites and apps? • Reasonable reader of privacy policy • Call on governments to set standards which organisations can sign up to, promising to explain how they use personal data in clear, concise and simple terms. • ICO’s global survey of more than 1200 mobile apps found 85% failed to explain how they were collecting, using and disclosing users’ personal information
  • 10. To read or not to read?
  • 11. Websites. Social Media • Enforceability of Terms of Service agreements: • Right to modify terms at any time and impose new or additional terms • Continued use = compliance with contract • EU enforceability of conditions without notification • Notice has to be given and consumer must have a choice to cancel if terms are no longer acceptable • Heavy burden on the consumer • Hidden unfair clauses likely to be deemed unfair • Unusual or suprising terms to be pointed out specifically
  • 13. Doing Digital Media in Africa • Demise of print • New platforms; new opportunities • Challenges for Africa: • Infrastructure • Slow internet connections • Low multimedia skills • Weak technological equipment • Advantages • Opportunity to learn from others’ mistakes • Use what is working and develop it further • Introduce useful methods used by other African countries • Journalism’s meaning, identity and purpose in the digital era
  • 14. Doing Digital Media in Africa Current representation Electronic Transactions Data Protection Cybercrime (Computer Crime) Botswana Draft (Under Review)  Ghana    Kenya  Draft Draft Lesotho Draft Draft Draft Malawi None None None Mauritius    Mozambique None None None Namibia Draft Draft Draft Nigeria Draft Draft Draft South Africa    Swaziland None None None Tanzania Draft Draft Draft Uganda  None  Zambia  None  Zimbabwe None  None Cote d’Ivoire    Congo None None None Angola None  None Gabon -  None Rwanda  Partial/Draft  Ethiopia Draft None - Source: EndCode Executive Brief
  • 16. Net Neutrality What kind of web do we want? • Net neutrality essentially prevents ISPs favouring one kind of internet traffic over another • It forbids telecomms companies from blocking websites or providing priority to certain content providers (usually for a fee) • The Internet and the World Wide Web have been the source of rapid technological innovation because they are structured in a neutral way • New entrants • Easy access to online resources • If an ISP can pick its content providers and subsidise the data costs for that content • It becomes harder for new entrants to come into the market • Stifles innovation • Stifles free expression
  • 17. Net Neutrality The Situation in the U.S. • South African stage of development with regard to net neutrality is different to the U.S. • Telecomms companies in the US are trying to get laws passed so that they can charge online content providers fees to make those provider’s sites faster on their networks for their users. • Big players like Netflix can afford to do this • What effect will this have on small/new players? • President Obama has written to the FCC asking them to protect Net Neutrality by classifying the Internet as a “Utility” and making it subject to all rules that apply to a “Utility” • Some net neutrality supporters believe this is not the right way to keep the net neutral • The decision is essentially up to the FCC
  • 19. REGULATING CONTENT: THE FILM & PUBLICATIONS BOARD
  • 20. The Film & Publications Board Regulation of Online Content 26 March 2013 the Chairperson of the Film and Publications Board, Thoko presented the Board’s Strategic Plan for the Fiscal Years 2013/14 – 2017/18 to the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs. • Effective and visible monitoring of industry throughout the entire value chain (content creators, producers and distributors of films, publications and games) for the protection of children and adults through information; • Effective and innovative regulation of the content distributed on online, mobile and related platforms for the protection of children and adults through information. • The Strategic Plan states that the FPB has established itself as the “authority in classification” and that its mandate (derived from the Film and Publications Act) is to regulate the creation, production and distribution of films, games and certain publications. • FPB’s mandate to regulate content at the creation stage extends the FPB’s powers to determine the nature of the content published on various platforms. This conflicts with fundamental constitutional rights, namely the freedom of expression (s16) and the freedom of trade, occupation and profession (s22).
  • 21. The Film & Publications Board Regulation of Online Content STRATEGIC OUTCOME 1 • Effective and visible monitoring of industry throughout the entire value chain. • Apply generic regulation to online publications and problematically require the re‐ordering of the natural tendencies that prevail in that sector. • Media creators, be it radio, video, magazines or newspapers (in print and online), subscribe to processes and forms of industry regulation specifically tailored to the nature of the publishing platform. • Content creation is not necessarily in the hands of media producers as traditionally understood? STRATEGIC OUTCOME 2 • Effective and innovative regulation of the content distributed on online, mobile and related platforms. • Inadequate consideration of the nature of content that is distributed on these platforms.
  • 22. The Film & Publications Board Regulation of Online Content THE FILMS AND PUBLICATIONS ACT Publication • The object of the Act: regulate the creation, production, possession, and distribution of films, games and certain publications by means of classification, the imposition of age restrictions, and giving of consumer advice. • The concept of “publication” is broadly defined in the Act and includes “any message or communication, including a visual presentation, placed on any distributed network, including but not confined to the Internet”. • This broad definition does not consider the logistics, nature of, and technical processes required to publish content on the Internet. The Act does not sufficiently make provision for the variety of “publication” that occurs online.
  • 23. The Film & Publications Board Regulation of Online Content THE FILMS AND PUBLICATIONS ACT Publication • Is personal commentary to be considered publication? • The Act does not take into account the nature of social media commentary nor does it consider that such commentary may well be strategically created or posted for commercial purposes. • Blogs, tweets, Facebook updates, live‐streaming of video and radio content.
  • 24. Pria Chetty [email protected] endcode.org THANKS, QUESTIONS? Denise Fouche [email protected] endcode.org
  • 25. References • http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-22772321 • http://www.businessinsider.com/president-obama-thinks-the-internet-should-be-a-utility-2014- 11 • http://www.pmg.org.za/report/20130326‐government‐printing‐works‐film‐and‐publication‐boar d‐201314‐strategic • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Net_neutrality • http://www.cyber‐rights.org/documents/clsr17_5_01.pdf • http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/nov/28/social-networks-personal-data-mps • http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2118688/PayPal-agreement-longer-Hamlet-iTunes-beats- Macbeth.html • http://www.slideshare.net/wenwenqi/internet-content-regulation-in-2010 • http://www.economist.com/news/special-report/21574634-chinas-model-controlling-internet-being- adopted-elsewhere-each-their-own

Editor's Notes

  • #6: Google has been criticised for not taking measures to control problematic content
  • #7: Google has been criticised for not taking measures to control problematic content
  • #21: The pervasiveness of SM is a moot point– the ubiquity of SM, our engagement with and reliance on platforms is no longer unique. SM has seamlessly become an everyday, for some all day event in our lives. Yet for something we use so freely and often unquestioningly, we are still surprised to discover that the very laws that regulate our non-digital behaviours also govern our interactions on line. As users of SM we become publishers of information, and thereby subject to the laws that apply to traditional media.
  • #22: The pervasiveness of SM is a moot point– the ubiquity of SM, our engagement with and reliance on platforms is no longer unique. SM has seamlessly become an everyday, for some all day event in our lives. Yet for something we use so freely and often unquestioningly, we are still surprised to discover that the very laws that regulate our non-digital behaviours also govern our interactions on line. As users of SM we become publishers of information, and thereby subject to the laws that apply to traditional media.
  • #23: The pervasiveness of SM is a moot point– the ubiquity of SM, our engagement with and reliance on platforms is no longer unique. SM has seamlessly become an everyday, for some all day event in our lives. Yet for something we use so freely and often unquestioningly, we are still surprised to discover that the very laws that regulate our non-digital behaviours also govern our interactions on line. As users of SM we become publishers of information, and thereby subject to the laws that apply to traditional media.
  • #24: The pervasiveness of SM is a moot point– the ubiquity of SM, our engagement with and reliance on platforms is no longer unique. SM has seamlessly become an everyday, for some all day event in our lives. Yet for something we use so freely and often unquestioningly, we are still surprised to discover that the very laws that regulate our non-digital behaviours also govern our interactions on line. As users of SM we become publishers of information, and thereby subject to the laws that apply to traditional media.