Why? They're demanding unnecessary legislation?
The problem isn't the Internet. The Internet is just a technology. It facilitates communication, and it can be used for good and bad. The problem is if fear gets the upper hand. If something bad happens, the most important thing is to be prepared, to know what to do -- and if you're a child, to call your parents. Fear often creates a sense of silence.
Describe your job.
I'm the project coordinator of SAFT, which is a European Commission-funded project to coordinate awareness efforts that involve the Internet. Half of our budget comes from partner organisations, including national governments and industry. We do research and awareness efforts with participating nations Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland and Ireland. We also try to coordinate and facilitate dialogue between industry and nongovernmental organisations and governments. When it comes to the Internet, somehow, you have all these different entities having to work together.
You've been detailed to this project from the Norwegian board of film censors?
Originally, I was hired by the board to do Internet policy work. We initiated this project, and we applied for money and formed this consortium. Right now, I'm on leave from my regular job to do this project, though I'm still there part time.
Your regular job is to rate movies. Without a rating -- an official government stamp -- they can't be shown, sold or rented, right?
I do work as a film classifier. Just before I came here, I rated "Kill Bill".
What did you rate it?
We had a split decision in the classification board. There was a division between marking it as appropriate for age 15 or age 18.
How did you vote?
I can't tell you. It's a secret to protect our classifiers. If you let in a movie that's too graphic, like genitals in motion, people will call and leave death threats. Reading Bible verses -- that kind of thing.
