Germany

[DE] KJM Recognises Two New Self-Regulatory Authorities

IRIS 2011-9:1/16

Anne Yliniva-Hoffmann

Institute of European Media Law (EMR), Saarbrücken/Brussels

On 19 September 2011, the Kommission für Jugendmedienschutz der Landesmedienanstalten (Land Media Authorities’ Commission for the Protection of Minors in the Media - KJM) announced the recognition of two new voluntary self-regulatory authorities (see IRIS 2011-7/17).

According to the press release, Freiwillige Selbstkontrolle der Filmwirtschaft (Voluntary Self-Regulation of the Film Industry - FSK) and Unterhaltungssoftware Selbstkontrolle (Voluntary Self-Regulation of Entertainment Software - USK) - both of which have, for a long time, been recognised as self-regulatory authorities for the age classification of films and computer games - have created FSK.online and USK.online in order to protect young people from online content.

In its decision of 14 September 2011, the KJM recognised both institutions under the terms of Articles 16 and 19 of the Jugendmedienschutz-Staatsvertrag (Interstate Agreement on the Protection of Young People in the Media - JMStV).

In view of the experience of FSK and USK in the field of youth protection in the media, as well as the objective to continue with the “regulated self-regulation” model, which has proved successful, and in response to the failure to amend the JMStV on 1 January 2011 (see IRIS 2010-5/17), the KJM welcomed the creation of specific regulatory bodies for telemedia.