UNITED KINGDOM — British “decency and accountability in the media” group Mediawatch-UK wants to see any and all erotic images removed from the region’s television screens – and a warning issued by the government about porn’s alleged “toxic” affects upon viewers. Basing its demands upon research published by the Ministry of Justice this past September, Mediawatch-UK urges UK broadcasting regulator, the Office of Communications, to strip the licenses away from any satellite, cable, terrestrial, or broadband television channel that dares to air adult content.
According to Mediawatch-UK, the Ministry of Justice’s conclusions that “a substantial body of mutually corroborative evidence of the harm effects of extreme – or other pornographic material” are correct and prove that pornography is dangerous. Furthermore, the organization believes that it is important that the government step up its time table for prioritizing the scourge.
At issue is the fact that, as Mediawatch-UK sees it, “exposure to pornography puts one at risk for developing sexually deviated tendencies, committing sexual offenses, experiencing difficulties in one’s intimate relationships, and accepting rape myths.”
John Beyers, director of Mediawatch-UK recently sent a letter to the Ofcom Content Board, reminding it that “Ofcom has certain statutory obligations to protect members of the public from harmful material, as set by Parliament in the Communications Act 2003” and that “Failure to respond to the new evidence of harm couple put Ofcom in breach of the law if it fails to take proportionate action to remove pornographic material from the airwaves.”
Additionally, Breyer insists that Ofcom should issue a warning to accompany pornographic material transmitted on other channels, presumably outside of its jurisdiction or broadcasting without their licenses.
