Action to combat harmful mass media content

Part of the objective of media policy is to combat harmful content in mass media. This page gives an overview of the most important legislation and Government agencies in this area and of action taken by the Government to combat harmful content in mass media.

Films for public exhibition

Films and videograms intended for public exhibition, such as cinema films, are examined in advance by the National Board of Film Classification, Statens biografbyrå, under the Act on Examination and Control of Films and Videograms (1990:886). Portrayals - whole films or parts of films - that can have a brutalising effect on people who see them must not be approved for exhibition. Films that have been examined and approved are also given age limits.

Television

Under the Radio and Television Act (1996:844) television programmes containing explicit portrayals of violence of a realistic nature or pornographic images must either be preceded by an audio warning or contain a warning text continuously displayed on screen throughout the transmission. These programmes may not be broadcast at times and in a manner that involve a considerable risk of children seeing them.

The licensing conditions for the public service broadcasters Sveriges Television AB and Sveriges Utbildningsradio AB and for TV4 AB, which is financed by advertising, contain more far-reaching conditions for taking into account the special impact of television. Compliance with these provisions is monitored after transmission by the Broadcasting Commission, and in some cases by the Office of the Chancellor of Justice. Stricter criteria are applied to programmes broadcast before 21.00. The Radio and Television Act prohibits television advertising directed at children under the age of 12.

Swedish Media Council (formerly Council on Media Violence)

The Swedish Media Council works with the media situation of children and young people. The Council's remit covers all media with moving images, such as computer and television games, film, television, video, DVD, and the Internet. Active, outreaching and result-oriented work is aimed at reducing the risk of harmful effects of the media on children and young people.

The Council is to pay particular attention to portrayals of violence and pornography and apply a clear gender perspective in its work. Its work is carried out primarily by providing facts, information and guidance on the harmful effects of the media to children, young people and adults. For many years now, the Media Council has also taken part in extensive European cooperation projects on safer use of the Internet.