This is edition 2025/187 of the Ten@10 newsletter.
Hi all,
This is the Ten@10, where I collate and summarise ten news items you generally won't see in the mainstream media.
Enjoy!
1. Time to abolish the BSA as it is attempting a secret power grab over the Internet
David Farrar
- ⚠️ Secret Power Grab: The Broadcasting Standards Authority (BSA) has made a secret “in principle” decision claiming authority over all internet-based audio and video content.
- 🎙️ Wide Reach: This decision would give the BSA control over podcasters, YouTubers, livestreamers, and any online broadcaster.
- 📜 Law Redefinition: The BSA is reinterpreting the Broadcasting Act’s phrase “other means of telecommunication” to include the Internet, and “broadcasting receiving apparatus” to mean any Internet-capable device.
- 🚫 Censorship Risk: Under these powers, the BSA could fine or order the removal of online content deemed to breach their standards—creating a sweeping Internet censorship regime in New Zealand.
- 🏛️ Bypassing Parliament: The BSA is expanding its powers without parliamentary approval, despite past governments deciding not to regulate Internet broadcasting.
- 📰 Call for Reform: The author argues New Zealand doesn’t need both the BSA and the Media Council, and calls for the abolition of the BSA entirely.
- 🤐 Lack of Transparency: The secretive nature of the BSA’s decision is condemned as “repugnant” to transparent lawmaking.
- 🗣️ Free Speech Defence: The author urges the Free Speech Union to campaign against the move and calls on the public to email Minister Paul Goldsmith to abolish or rein in the BSA.
