|
No Laws To Control Live Kiwi Cyber-strippers?
|
26 October 2000 Edition
Previous Edition
|
Once again we're finding that the Internet is leaving NZ's legislators in the dust
as they scramble to try and find ways to control some of the less savory aspects
of online content.
The latest example involves the planned launch of a live online stripper service
by a Christchurch strip joint.
According to media reports, the Calendar Girls strip club has been actively
recruiting new talent for the cyber-strip service and plans to offer paying
surfers the ability to direct the girls' online activities.
The big problem is that such a live cyber-show seems to fall between the cracks
in our existing
Internet censorship
legislation. According to the Internal Affairs Department,
because it's a live performance, it's not covered by the laws controlling
films, videos and publications.
Whether this live cyber-droolfest might fall foul of the
Broadcasting Standards Authority
also remains unclear.
I'm sure this will get the prudes raging in the corridors of power -- especially
if they apply for, and get, one of Jim's technology grants.
After all, it's a technology-based venture that is creating new jobs and it
would not surprise me to see it earn significant export dollars. Given that
we're already firmly on the back-foot, can we afford to be fussy over
exactly how we climb aboard the new economy?
Just Look At Singapore
Everyone knows that countries such as Ireland, Finland, Israel and
Singapore are blessed with government policies that have really given
them a powerful head-start in the "new economy" -- while ours seems content
just to talk about maybe offering a some kind of feeble tax
concessions on R&D that might come into effect perhaps in 2002.
The already massive chasm between these 21st-century enconomies and our own
just grew even larger with the announcement that Singapore's National Science
and Technology Board just received an additional US$4 billion in government
funding.
This board is charged with boosting the tiny island's activities in the new
economy by encouraging private-sector R&D. Portions of the money will
be used to encourage more overseas investment, create scholarship funds to
boost the number of graduates and recruit highly skilled knowledge workers
from other countries.
This $4 billion represents an almost 100% increase on the previous funding
level.
So, apart from the levels of government investment involved, can anyone spot
the difference between the policies of the Singapore government (which have
produced an exceptionally strong knowledge economy) and the policies of
the NZ government?
It's simply the difference between talk and action.
The Weekly
If you want to receive the "all new" Aardvark Weekly in PDF format by email
then please use
the contact form to leave your email address.
You'll get a confirmation email within a day or two and you won't receive anything else
unless you respond to that email to confirm your opt-in status.
As always, email addresses submitted for the purposes of receiving the Weekly
will not be given away, sold, bent, spindled, mutilated or otherwise abused
and you will not receive anything other than the weekly as a result of signing
up.
As always, your feedback is welcomed.
