• Full Story

Online media laws could be changed

Email
Print

Thu, 01 Dec 2011 10:59a.m.

The Law Commission report will look at how the current laws and watchdogs cope with the likes of Twitter, Facebook, news websites and bloggers

The Law Commission report will look at how the current laws and watchdogs cope with the likes of Twitter, Facebook, news websites and bloggers

Policing the explosion of internet social networking, bloggers and news websites is up for debate with the release of a report into new media later this month.

The Law Commission report, called the Review of Regulatory Gaps and the New Media, will look at how the current laws and watchdogs cope with the likes of Twitter, Facebook, news websites and bloggers breaking rules that have in the past applied to radio, television and newspapers.

Former justice minister Simon Power last year asked the commission to look at how to define the "news media" for the purposes of the law and whether the jurisdiction of the Broadcasting Standards Authority and/or the Press Council should be extended to cover the current void.

It will also look at what law changes would be needed for that.

The report is also looking at whether the courts can deal with defamation, harassment, breach of confidence and privacy in the new media, or whether another system might be a better option.

The report, which will be open for public comment, will be released on December 12.

NZN

Become a fan of 3 News on Facebook and on Twitter.

Post a Comment

Before commenting, please take the time to read our moderation guide


(Won't be published)



Comments

06 Dec 2011 03:33p.m.

Adam wrote:

Vinny's reasoning is spot on...as always...

04 Dec 2011 01:43p.m.

Craig wrote:

@homer please give an example how under a National government your rights have been eroded ? And please don't give the example that you can't illegally download music and movies anymore?

03 Dec 2011 11:14a.m.

Vinny Eastwood wrote:

The only reason why this kind of talk is going on is Media Works owes the govt $40 million and TVNZ is up for privatisation, neither of them are happy that their audiences are dwindling and their revenue streams are drying up, this is mostly due to a total lack of journalistic responsibility or reporting of the TRUTH. The media is the fourth estate and it is impossible for democracy to function with an uninformed public, the recent election result of 35% of people not bothering to vote at all and 48%+ of people so foolish as to vote National whom is named as such in my opinion only because they're devoted to increasing our NATIONAL debt! When the media won't do their job, don't complain about it just replace them because they're no longer relevant. Vinny Eastwood MR NEWS www.guerillamedia.co.nz NZ's Alternative Media and www.thevinnyeastwoodshow.com the best talk radio in New Zealand!

03 Dec 2011 12:01a.m.

Jacquelyne wrote:

Sadly Homer I agree..since the mainstream media rarely if ever provide let alone connect the real information the public actually need to know to make informed decisions on democratic processes.. No real suprise here, they are after all corporate entities needing to make profits & economy with the truth a small price to pay for that .. Just about to give this a LOT MORE LIGHT though.. 'The man who reads nothing at all is better educated than the man who reads nothing but newspapers.' ~Thomas Jefferson..These days I only read them or watch tv to confirm what I generally know I'm not being told about fully, or need to endeavour to work out why or what the spin is?..America's Fox & Radio Live here, a prime example of news with implants or biased bigots with microphones.

01 Dec 2011 01:12p.m.

Homer wrote:

Watch out for sweeping changes by National to further remove our rights to free speech.