‘Digital capture’ looms large in SA
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The word "capture" has become almost as popular in SA as the suffix "-gate" is in the US. It’s something I’m proud of, as our regular, almost unconscious, capitulation to the memes and tropes of American cultural imperialism is deeply annoying, if not downright pathetic.
Of course, the whole world — and not just the English-speaking world — loves to call things "Somethinggate". The list of "-gate" scandals on Wikipedia has the plaintive disclaimer: "This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness."
There are examples of -gate scandals from many countries, including South Korea (Burning Sun-gate), China (nudegate), Sweden (penisgate, involving Lenny Kravitz — you’ll want to Google that one), Argentina, Germany and others.
We’ve now thrown our hat into the global cliché ring with "state capture", "media capture", and so on. Though, regrettably, I see some irritating subeditor at the Sunday Times used "Guptagate" in 2015, so that sucks.
What I want to talk about today is yet another capture that the ANC — that highly efficient scavenger of the body politic — is attempting to scoop into its greedy maw: "digital capture".
The Films & Publications Amendment Act 11 of 2019 has been passed by parliament and signed by the president, though the date of implementation hasn’t been decided yet. The Film & Publication Board (FPB), bless its hand-spun socks, was tasked with extending its mandate to include online content and the creation, production and distribution of said content.
I had the misfortune of meeting the FPB about this very matter a few years ago, and I was gobsmacked by the lack of digital acumen. But that was a few years ago, I’m sure the board has learnt a lot since then. Or has it?
This is how the body that is inexplicably responsible for regulating content on the internet defines the material it will regulate: "Publication means, and includes, where applicable, any of the following, published using the internet:
"Any newspaper, magazine, book, periodical, pamphlet, poster or other printed matter;"Any writing or typescript which has in any manner been duplicated;"Any drawing, picture, illustration or painting;"Any print, photograph, engraving or lithograph;"Any record, magnetic tape, soundtrack or any other object in or on which sound has been recorded for reproduction; ... and"Any figure, carving, statue or model."
Yes, you read that right. Printed matter. Printed matter published on the internet.
Now, ...
Of course, the whole world — and not just the English-speaking world — loves to call things "Somethinggate". The list of "-gate" scandals on Wikipedia has the plaintive disclaimer: "This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness."
There are examples of -gate scandals from many countries, including South Korea (Burning Sun-gate), China (nudegate), Sweden (penisgate, involving Lenny Kravitz — you’ll want to Google that one), Argentina, Germany and others.
We’ve now thrown our hat into the global cliché ring with "state capture", "media capture", and so on. Though, regrettably, I see some irritating subeditor at the Sunday Times used "Guptagate" in 2015, so that sucks.
What I want to talk about today is yet another capture that the ANC — that highly efficient scavenger of the body politic — is attempting to scoop into its greedy maw: "digital capture".
The Films & Publications Amendment Act 11 of 2019 has been passed by parliament and signed by the president, though the date of implementation hasn’t been decided yet. The Film & Publication Board (FPB), bless its hand-spun socks, was tasked with extending its mandate to include online content and the creation, production and distribution of said content.
I had the misfortune of meeting the FPB about this very matter a few years ago, and I was gobsmacked by the lack of digital acumen. But that was a few years ago, I’m sure the board has learnt a lot since then. Or has it?
This is how the body that is inexplicably responsible for regulating content on the internet defines the material it will regulate: "Publication means, and includes, where applicable, any of the following, published using the internet:
"Any newspaper, magazine, book, periodical, pamphlet, poster or other printed matter;"Any writing or typescript which has in any manner been duplicated;"Any drawing, picture, illustration or painting;"Any print, photograph, engraving or lithograph;"Any record, magnetic tape, soundtrack or any other object in or on which sound has been recorded for reproduction; ... and"Any figure, carving, statue or model."
Yes, you read that right. Printed matter. Printed matter published on the internet.
Now, ...
