1. © Valtion elokuvatarkastamo 2008 | www.vet.fi What is censorship / classification / regulation? • a work’s suitability for public exhibition and distribution is subjected to prior inspection What is censored / classified? • films, games, books (Australia) Who does it? • a governmental body (Nordic countries, Australia, France) • industry’s own regulation organisations (MPAA, UK’s BBFC, FSK (Germany) • local authorities (Canada, UK, Switzerland)

2. © Valtion elokuvatarkastamo 2008 | www.vet.fi What causes censorship / classification / regulation? • depictions of sex, violence and horror (in most countries) • language (UK, US) • political content (e.g. former eastern block countries)

3. © Valtion elokuvatarkastamo 2008 | www.vet.fi What we do in Finnish Board of Film Classification: • We classify ie. give age limits to audiovisual programmes, e.g. films, trailers, dvd-extras and in some occasions to tv programmes Why classification: • Audiovisual programmes are classified and restrictions for their exhibition and distribution are set only for the protection of children • (Act on the classification of audiovisual programmes [Laki kuvaohjelmien tarkastamisesta] 775/2000, 7§ / 381/2009)

4. © Valtion elokuvatarkastamo 2008 | www.vet.fi What is harmful for children? • An audiovisual programme shall be considered harmful to children's development when it is likely to have a detrimental effect on children's development owing to its violent or sexual content or by causing terror or in comparable manner • An appraisal of an audiovisual programme under subsection 1 shall take account of the context and the manner in which events are portrayed in the programme • (Act on the classification of audiovisual programmes [Laki kuvaohjelmien tarkastamisesta] 775/2000, 7§ / 381/2009)

5. © Valtion elokuvatarkastamo 2008 | www.vet.fi What is classified: audiovisual programme ie. motion picture or other recording intended for viewing as moving pictures audiovisual programmes intended for public distribution in any method different carriers: film, video, dvd, computer disc different distribution methods: theatrical distribution, dvd sales or rental, video on demand (VOD) (Act on the classification of audiovisual programmes [Laki kuvaohjelmien tarkastamisesta] 775/2000, 7§ / 381/2009)

6. © Valtion elokuvatarkastamo 2008 | www.vet.fi What is not classified in Finnish Board of Film Classification : • television programmes if they are not in Video On Demand -distribution (tv-programmes are under Finnish Communications Regulatory Authority supervision: watershed times) • interactive audiovisual programmes ie. Computer games. However they must bear an age category based on its harmfulness. In most cases age category is based on the Pan-European Game Information age-rating system (PEGI)

7. © Valtion elokuvatarkastamo 2008 | www.vet.fi7 Age limits in Finland (since 1.1.2007) The programme contains music, sports, travelling or other material which is not harmful to children. Unclassified. Only for persons over 18 years. The program- me may be conveyed only to a person who has attained the age of 18.

8. 2012 will bring major changes • the classification of audiovisual programmes is done only by special approved classifiers • classifier can be anybody who has successfully completed the audiovisual programme classifier training • also television programmes are classified, watershed times are still valid • interactive audiovisual programmes: the Pan-European Game Information age-rating system (PEGI) is applied. If game does not have PEGI rating it must be classified •Finnish Board of Film Classification will be renamed to MEKU ie. Finnish Centre for Media Education and Audiovisual Media

9. 2012 will bring major changes •Meku supervises the activities of audiovisual programme classifiers, takes feedback from the audiences and can reclassify previously classified programme and focusses on coordinating media education activities in Finland. • new age limits, again

10. Finnish Age Ratings and Content Symbols for Audiovisual Media as of 2012 An audiovisual programme provider must ensure that an audiovisual programme with an age limit of 7, 12, 16 or 18 is not available for viewing by children younger than the age limit. For all ages (alternatively) S (in Finnish) T (in Swedish) According to the Finnish Act on Audiovisual Programmes (710/2011), if an audiovisual programme is detrimental to the development of children, it shall be classified with an age limit of 7, 12, 16 or 18, depending on the programme’s content, and be given a symbol that describes the programme content.

11. Sexual acts or references to sex. Finnish Age Ratings and Content Symbols for Audiovisual Media Depictions of violence. May frighten or cause anxiety. Use of drugs or alcohol. An audiovisual programme is considered to be detrimental to the development of children if the programme, by virtue of its violent or sexual content or its properties causing anxiety or any other comparable features, is likely to detrimentally affect children’s development. A programme can be publicly exhibited to a person at the most three years younger than the age limit of 7, 12 or 16 given to the programme if the child is accompanied by a person aged 18 or more.