Censorship in Cattala

Cattala has long been a strictly conservative and Catholic country, and despite the liberalisation of the Western world since the 1800s, Cattalian society remains strict in what is acceptable and decent. Rural provinces, such as Monte Calida and Lessito, remain deeply conservative. Because of this, moral censorship forms a central part of Cattalian life and judicial law.

Obscene and sexual content
Obscenity law in Cattala is governed by the Obscene Publications Act, of which the latest was written in 1994. Possession and publication of extreme pornographic material, including necrophilia, zoophilia, strangulation, torture, life-threatening sexual acts and rape, is illegal and can result in a prison sentence varying between 1 and 15 years.

Adult stores are severely restricted in Cattala, with the Indecent Displays Act 1970 forcing all adult goods to be sold in a licensed store at the back of a shop with a warning sign clearly displayed and no items being visible in the main shop. Pornographic videos and magazines are not allowed to be sold in non-adult stores and must be hidden from view.

Prostitution and escorting is illegal in Cattala and can result in a 2 year prison sentence, with agents receiving up to 7 years.

Libel Law
Slander and defamation is regulated strictly by libel laws in Cattala, with the defendant asked to prove they did not commit libel and compensation is unlimited, unlike in personal injury claims.

The Defamation Bill of 2004 was published to ensure that the a correct balance between freedom of speech, reputation protection and broadcasting right. The bill outlawed blasphemous libel, which had been used in no criminal prosecutions since 1962, and prevented religious groups claiming blasphemy against a faith as libel.

Prior restraint and prevention of publication
Several organisations, mostly non-government funded, act as censors for specific industries prior to distribution or publication.

The Board of Film Classification is the film censor of Cattala and rates films and video games using a U - 18 system or the PEGI system. It also runs the Board of Video Classification, which classifies video recordings and is legally binding. The BFC can refuse to classify any video recording, film or video game, effectively banning it. Appeals to the independent Video Appeals Committee can overturn these bans.

The Office for Communication censors television over a variety of departments. The Advertising Clearance Centre pre-approves all advertising on Cattalian television and can revoke a company's licence to advertise if a commercial receives a significant number of upheld complaint, which are decided upon by the Advertising Standards Agency, also part of the OFC.

The Office for Communication also regulates television, radio and telecommunications services. It has legal powers to force a broadcaster to withdraw a programme from the air or issue a public apology if its programming breaches guidelines or standards written by the OFC. The public can complain about programming which could lead to a fine to the broadcaster or even a "removal from television" order, banning the broadcaster from operating in Cattala.

Cattala operates a "watershed" programming time between 22:00 and 5:00, when programmes rated 15 by the OFC or BFC are allowed to broadcast. 12-rated shows are only allowed to broadcast after 20:00. 18-rated content cannot be broadcast before 23:00 and must end at 4:00. Channels are legally required to broadcast a verbal and visual advisory before shows that contain sexual, graphic, violent or adult scenes, even after the watershed.

Advertisements also operate a watershed, with junk food, alcohol, 15+ rated games and films and gambling advertisements prevented from broadcasting before 22:00 and are illegal on child-orientated channels. Tobacco and sexual products, including condoms, are illegal throughout the day and the watershed.

RMI Censorship of Television and Radio
Royal Media International, the state-owned broadcaster, operates its own censorship department which prevents the broadcasting of music or programming on Cattala's main channels. All RMI Radio stations utilise this service, with over 100 songs banned for containing sexually explicit lyrics or promoting the use of drugs.

Internet censorship
There are no specific laws enforcing internet censorship, but all of Cattala's internet service providers (ISPs) pass internet traffic through a Cleanfeed service which can block web pages that are judged to contain indecent photographs of children, glorifying terrorism or other extreme pornography.

Educational Institutions
According to a government report, 89% of schools, colleges and universities use internet filters to block access to sites which contain Adult material, Gambling and site which contain malware. YouTube, Facebook and Twitter are often filtered by schools. Some Church of Cattala schools block extreme Christian and anti-Christian websites using filters as well.