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The Czech Constitutional Court has heard a complaint from a broadcaster about a fine imposed on it for broadcasting a “Big Brother”-type reality show. The Broadcasting Council had decided that the broadcaster should pay a fine of CZK 200,000 for violating Article 32 of Law no. 231/2001, which prohibits broadcasters from broadcasting TV programmes that endanger the physical, spiritual or moral development of children, between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. Some parts of the programme had contained scenes that harmed human dignity and interpersonal relations, as well as vulgar and bad language (see IRIS 2005-10/13,...

On 28 September 2010, the Kamer voor Onpartijdigheid en Bescherming van Minderjarigen (Chamber for Impartiality and the Protection of Minors) of the Vlaamse Regulator voor de Media (Flemish Regulator for the Media) considered sexually explicit teletext messages transmitted by the commercial broadcasters VMMa, SBS Belgium and MTV Networks Belgium. The Flemish Media Decree prohibits the broadcasting of any programmes that could cause serious detriment to the physical, mental or moral development of minors. However, broadcasting of such programmes is allowed where it is ensured, by selecting the time...

Several initiatives have been launched recently in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) in order to promote awareness of responsible and safe use of the Internet, with a special focus on the protection of minors and the risks that young people may be taking in the online environment. In December 2010, as a part of the wider media literacy campaign, the Regulatorna agencija za komunikacije (Communications Regulatory Agency - RAK) launched the TV spot “Where is Klaus” adapted for broadcasting in BiH, as well as a newly-produced radio version. The TV spot has been made available by the EU-supported initiative...

As reported in IRIS 2010-5:1/27, the Association for Television On-Demand (ATVOD) was formally “designated” as the co-regulator for UK Video on Demand (VOD) services. This status came formally into effect on 20 September 2010. ATVOD was an industry trade association prior to the designation. ATVOD has now published its Procedure for Complaints about Editorial Content on VOD Services. The document outlines the procedures ATVOD will normally follow in the handling of complaints concerning editorial content on video on demand (“VOD”) programme services (“VOD Services”). The Procedure also came into...

The Ministry of Justice is assessing the possibility of decriminalizing the use of open WiFi networks. According to a draft memorandum published last year, using a wireless internet connection without its owner’s permission would be allowed in such cases where the access point is not protected by password or the like. In particular, the memorandum assesses whether it is appropriate to deem unauthorised use a criminal offence. In compliance with Chapter 28, section 7 of the Penal Code of Finland, “[a] person who without authorisation uses the movable property or the non-movable machine or equipment...