Quote:The NZ First leader is accusing the Broadcasting Standards Authority (BSA) of "Soviet era stasi" censorship, following a decision to begin regulating podcasts and online media.
Winston Peters posted on social media saying it was "blatant overreach" by the BSA and "highly concerning", and demanded an explanation for their "recent outrageous action".
"Why does the Broadcasting Standards Authority think they can make up their own rules in secret meetings to act like some Soviet era stasi."
The Free Speech Union later put out a release about the decision to start "regulating podcasters such as Sean Plunket", saying it was a move "far beyond its legal mandate."
A complaint sent by the BSA to The Platform has been published on the online platform's website, outlining concerns raised about allegedly "unacceptable racist comments".
The letter from the BSA states it "has found it has jurisdiction" to consider a complaint about The Platform's live talkback programme on the basis the transmission of the programme met the definition of 'broadcasting' in the Act.
The complaint itself relates to concerns about what the complainant alleges were "unacceptable racist comments" in The Platform's 22 July 2025 programme, the letter stated.
When the listener first complained to The Platform, the online media organisation responded: "You Plonker we aren't subject to the Broadcasting Standards Authority".

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/576015/winston-peters-accuses-broadcasting-standards-authority-of-soviet-era-stasi-censorship

(2 hours ago)Oh_hunnihunni Wrote: Why does he have to make every little thing that irritates him into such a drama? Just to hit the front pages?

Just make the complaint Winnie, through the normal channels, like the rest of us, and stop making a song and dance about it. All sizzle and no steak, that man...

(Yesterday, 11:30 PM)Agent_24 Wrote: Oh the good old "I want to be free to be a racist and a bigot without consequence" argument