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11 Jan 2011

McDonald's in New Zealand lifts blocks on some gay websites after complaints

Following complaints, McDonald's says it will allow access to a number of gay-related websites from its free Wi-Fi service but not a leading gay news website due to its sexually explicit third party advertising, as described in a McDonald's statement.

According to news site Stuff.co.nz, McDonald's says it will allow access to a number of gay-related websites from its free Wi-Fi service, but is sticking by its ban of a leading gay news website, GayNZ.com, which sparked the review when it published an open letter condemning McDonald's for "censoring" the free Wi-Fi access.





The service was introduced in McDonald's 132 restaurants in December last year.

In an open letter posted by GayNZ.com on Jan 10, it sought a clarification as to why the fast food chain has an "inconsistent" policy where NZ AIDS Foundation site is not blocked but others including Family Planning, Rainbow Youth, GayNZ.com, Agender and others are blocked.

"It begins to look as though your policy is: 'any site that is open and honest about dealing with sexuality matters and lifestyles is actually about sex and is therefore undesirable.' However, there is a difference between sexuality and sex. Perhaps your censors do not understand this?"

In an update, GayNZ.com reported that McDonald's will remove blocks from the NZ Family Planning and associated www.theword.org.nz; website, Rainbow Youth, Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbian and Gay People (PFLAG) and Agender websites but not GayNZ.com.

Stuff.co.nz quoted communications manager Christine Dennis as saying: "McDonald's is struggling with some of the content, for example some of third party advertising. Some advertisements are sexually explicit and they do not meet our 'family or child friendly' criteria." The company had offered to meet with the website's editor "to explore whether there is a mutually acceptable way to move forward''.

GayNZ is a news and information site for the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community. It was a finalist in the "investigative journalism" section of the Qantas Media Awards last year, and was ranked the most popular Lifestyle-Gay and Lesbian site by Hitwise in its most recent survey.

读者回应

1. 2011-01-11 21:03  
I wonder if McDonald in NZ block str8 related sex topic, if yes, i think it is fine.

Many years ago I frequent in gaymalaysia irc room, and the op just ban anything that he think is "sex", like if u type "f**k", "p***s", "c**k" etc, u will b kicked and/or banned.

Even in gay community site has this kind of "moral" control.

Another story, while I was in UAE Abu Dhabi airport on transit last week, I couldn't visit Fridae dot com using my iphone. A message said this site is blocked...
2. 2011-01-11 21:34  
Hmmm, here in Belgium, we remember the last time media were censored. It was during WW2 by the nazis. I thought these times were over. Strange that just an US enterprise does censor gay sites 60 years later?
3. 2011-01-11 22:28  
Lat time I was in NZ, i tried to access fridae from a wireless in a public library and it was blocked too...
4. 2011-01-11 23:20  
oh i was in belgium 2 weeks ago
5. 2011-01-12 00:41  
this seems to be much controversy about not so much. I am more worried about broad based blockers for for so much. for example in California/USA recently, I stayed in a Quality Inn hotel, standard worldwide hotel. and the hotel blocked Fridae.com as "obscene" !

go figure.
6. 2011-01-12 05:13  
Or, the "Do you want fries and a Big Mac and a big cock with that?" decision.

:-P
7. 2011-01-12 05:58  
interesting fridae didnt mention gay.co.nz ... the biggest website in the country!
8. 2011-01-12 06:25  
I think everyone is just being overly precious princesses. It makes sense to ban sites with sexually explicit content in a public area where families and children will be eating. Even McD's said their issue isnt the site but the 3rd party adds which border on pronography. I dont know about the rest of you but I live in New Zealand and I dont plan on going to McDonalds to get my rocks off. I go there to eat.

If you want to visit sites full of cock and naked men than f' off home and do it like the rest of us.

Nazis.... get a grip! Stop being drama queens.
9. 2011-01-12 07:04  
I have also looked at the site and note that fridae.com (a site I do enjoy so am dissapointed byt this...) is only giving half the story. On GayNZ.com a promiment gay rights activist here in New Zealand posted an article SUPPORTING McDonalds in their decision explaining that he himself finds some of the adverts in question offensive.... And this is a man who entered mayoral elections dressed as a drag queen, in our conservative little country.

If it offends him than there must be something to it.

Come on fridae.com, your better than that. Get the full story before you go painting your villian.
10. 2011-01-12 07:13  
Personally, I don't think it's necessary to block access to Whatever.

Put it this way: "Oh, won't someone think of the children!" doesn't wash with me, as what kind of idiot thinks: "Hmmm. I think I'll sit next to that family, and go and watch some 30-second clips from Horsebangers 4 at full volume, and enjoy these chicken nuggets..."?

People will always behave badly; blocking 'adult' sites, by whatever definition (and can't edgy style/fashion sites also get blocked, as They could be seen to be unsuitable content) is a convenient way to sidestep the issue. It still won't stop Anybody from coming in with any porn etc pre-loaded on their phones, iPads, laptops or whatever.

It's really a shame if Anyone feels the need to watch Whatever in the middle of a venue like that - but they will a anyway, if they're so inclined, regardless of whether of not Mickie Ds is facilitating them.

Frankly, I'm much, much more concerned about deeply, deeply strange middle-aged men, or aggressive inner-city trash, or zombie junkies, or various other ne'er do wells that tend to haunt McDonalds and any/every urban fast food joint than someone who - shock - wants to watch porn, or check out Fridae, Grindr, Dudesnude, Gaydar, Manhunt or MyLittleButtPony.com, which I've never once considered before.

And, yes, I Did just make the last one up. :-P
11. 2011-01-12 07:17  
I think if McDonald's main purpose is to protect underage kids. Go and Block all adult websites (gay and straight) if they can. Other than that if McDonald just wanna block certain gay websites, then it will be subjected to discrimination lawsuit.

One more important issue is that parents should be responsible to their underage kids. Don't blame others.

Personally I think McDonald is a family restaurant. Guys/Gays, if you are horny, please go home and use your own computer and internet. Don't spend your time surfing..... in McDonal. One hand is holding your BIG Mc. The other hand is either on the keyboard or your cock. Fuck! Does it taste good to have full mouth of Mc Burger and watching a guy having full cum inside his mouth on your computer's screen? Do you have a brain?
12. 2011-01-12 07:58  
Such impertinence ...again. Some gay groups are just cry-babies.
McDonald's is providing a "free" service at their expense. They certainly have every right to determine how that free service is accessed and utilized by consumers.



13. 2011-01-12 08:45  
Mmm... so now two reasons not to go to MacDonalds... bad food *and* homophobia... one reason would be enough to not go there...
14. 2011-01-12 10:27  
in Penang, McD had blocked all the gay (and straight porn) website long time ago. I co not access Fridae by using their WIFI service.
15. 2011-01-12 10:35  
Hey, it is free internet provided by McDonalds in a public area. I think they as the provider have every right to restrict what sites can and cannot be visited, especially in an atmosphere that is frequented by young families and children. We all have internet at home, we all have the ability to view these websites from within the privacy of our own four walls.
16. 2011-01-12 16:38  
#12. U are really funny. Are u American? Does your country have laws? If your below statement came from your thought and u r American, I feel so sorry for your country. Why don't u ask McDonald to be your law maker?

"McDonald's is providing a "free" service at their expense. They certainly have every right to determine how that free service is accessed and utilized by consumers"

Even free service, McDonal is not above the laws. Wake up #12.

Sorry that I blocked u from accessing to my Fridae's profile months ago. Sorry, I don't deal with low IQ gay.

Hey #12. Whether it allows or does not allow to access adult websites, McDonald has to look into the interests of young kids. If this issue goes to court, this is the only reason court will consider. Children protection is always the most important element for a ruling decision.

Since I have blocked u months ago, please do not follow my comment. If u do, I will not hesitate to fuck u back like here. Stupid.
17. 2011-01-12 18:26  
wow
shouldnt judge a person by it pic, i guess
18. 2011-01-12 18:54  
looking at how explicit the photos posted here in fridae by the members, i'm not surprised McD decided to block access from their wifi connection
and no, i don't think it has anything to do with the site being a gay site at all
do i agree with their decision to block access to certain site from their connection? yes i do support
it IS their network connection after all :|
19. 2011-01-12 18:56  
#11: yup, exactly my point :)
of all places, why do you have to choose a public, family restaurant to access your favorite carnal site >_
20. 2011-01-12 18:56  
I agree, number 12 does seem to have a talent for insulting and stalking. After trying (and failing I might add) to insult me in a similar public forum, he saw fit to send me a heart/friend request..... As if I am THAT desperate.

Im dating a cute 22 year old from Hong Kong with a brain. That would be a major down grade.
21. 2011-01-12 19:08  
Whoop whoop. Just stoked NZ got a mention on the front page of Fridae. Represent!!! haha
Happy NY everyone!
22. 2011-01-12 21:58  
it's quite acceptable for any private business or institution to block any sites that promote gratuitious sexually explicit material, it's a free service they provide and the 'skanky oh so last century queering lobby' shouldn't think they have the right to dictate to maccas or any other business or institution what it may or may not block as part of any free service they offer while customers are in their businesses
23. 2011-01-13 00:32  
Why are gays and lesbians in McDonalds to begin with? Studies show that consumption of their food, high in saturated fats, cause heart attacks and other health life threatening issues. Simply stop eating and visiting McDonalds.
24. 2011-01-13 00:38  
Dear Fridae,

Can you please block and ban #12 from accessing Fridae. Whenever I read his comments, I feel like killing somebody. Please save me from being a criminal. If you are afraid of losing one paying subscriber to you, I would be happy to pay you double as long as I don't have to see his comments here. Thank you !
25. 2011-01-13 01:28  
#19 U are right. Babe. Children first. They are our future. Who can protect them? Adult with brain. lol Not all having brain. U should know what I mean. lol
26. 2011-01-13 02:27  
Dear #24. Cheers! You are a brave good looking man. Wow Now I noticed many Fridae members have noticed this guy - Kuman 10127. His comments were no common sense at all. What I hate the most is he is stalking me. Fuck U, stupid American, your talent is really insulting your nation and Americans. Please don't read my comments in this forum, they are not at your level of intelligence. STOP STALKING ME. fUcK u.

#20 and 22. lol U are right. Cheers!
27. 2011-01-13 10:04  
Lol, hi again Ralphynz.... Yeah, that was pretty cool. Even if it is for the wrong reason.

T
28. 2011-01-14 00:27  
as a gay dad, i think all find mcdonalds digusting, what overachieving gay dad actually takes his kids there? its parthetically unhealhty, heck in san francsisco, the city govnt is trying to take away the toys in happy meals which i do admit i struggle with cause i think you can't outsource responsibilities about good eating to third parties anymore

good food choices do have consequences

what does it all mean anyway?

thank god for Taco Bell, its much more healthy, plus if i want to watch porn there i can cause I am worth it
29. 2011-01-14 17:38  
leave #12 alone..

The truth is simple; McDonald's blocked some gay sites, but they blocked straight sites too - and most likely a lot more straight sites! it's not homophobia, it's just them trying to restrict what sites they don't want people to access, for which they do for the good of their own image.

What would happen if the next news headliner is "porn watchers are all heading to macdonalds"? It doesn't seem as if it's a question of sexuality at all...

And PS: Kazukicanada... you're comments are so noisy~ If you kept quiet some times, it'd be good for everyone.... :)
30. 2011-01-15 08:02  
#29.... No offence but clearly you have not yet been stalked by number 12 like many of us have been. After sending lots of messages insulting me than sending me hearts and asking me to add him as a friend.... It became obvious he is in fact insane.

At first I felt sorry and allmost added him because he must be desperatly lonely but than I realised he was just crazy. So he was blacklisted and reported to fridae.
31. 2011-01-15 22:17  
guys....please dont fight each other....we r in 1 community...so....rethink about it...
cheers
32. 2011-01-16 07:31  
#29. Childist. No wonder your below comment matches your age. BTW, Most ppl are more mature.

" And PS: Kazukicanada... you're comments are so noisy~ If you kept quiet some times, it'd be good for everyone.... :)"

How can u said I am noisy? Hey, Babe, this is a public forum. Is anyone force you to read? If you watch CNN, can u tell CNN u are noisy? If you go to shopping center, can you tell people to keep their mouth shut?

My advice to u is keep your eye shut. Don't read any comments, I am sure u will keep your mind quiet. Don't u learn the manner living in Asia for so many years?

It is important to THINK before u TALK. Good face does not tell how smart u are.

I believe you have no ground to ask anyone to shut up here since it is a public forum and moreover FRIDAE does not FORCE u to spend your quality time to READ something that U don't want to read. Thanks for reading my message. You should punish your eyes.

Do I make sense to you now? Babe lol. Just a common sense will make u think before u post this message to me. Hope u learn your lesson this time how to behave and respect in public forum. My friend wanna u to know, if you go to McDonald and asking people not to eat, what is the difference u are asking me to stop type my comment in a public forum? lol Time to go back to School again.
33. 2011-01-16 07:51  
I sent an email to McDonald NZ and received positive reply from it. I hope the below email from McDonald NZ will make Fridae's members clear on the issue. Cheers!

Wed, January 12, 2011 11:34:33 PMIncident No: 0004786460
From: Customer Services - Web Site Add to Contacts
To: "kazuki>>>@yahoo.com" >>@yahoo.ca>

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dear Kazuki,

Thank you for contacting McDonald's New Zealand regarding your concerns about accessing certain websites via our Free WiFi service.

McDonald's is a family restaurant chain, and as part of offering our new Free WiFi service, our policy is that viewed website content must be of a family friendly nature. This means it must be suitable for a child to view, and that a child cannot access a website where they can click on any content, link or third party advertisement and access sexually explicit content and images.

McDonald's would like to stress that we will actively discriminate against access to all sexually explicit and pornographic material in our restaurants.

In order to help protect children in our restaurants, McDonald's has an external content filtering software programme in place where certain types of online content, including gambling websites, tobacco websites and adult mature content websites are blocked.

Because we are in the early stages of offering this new Free WiFi service, we may encounter some issues with the filtering system. We have asked customers to contact us if they believe a site has been unjustifiably blocked. We will then review the content on a case by case basis and decide whether all information on that site, including advertisements and links to third party sites, is family friendly. If it meets this criteria, then we will commit to unblocking that particular site.

We have had a number of customers contact us directly regarding specific websites that they believe should be unblocked. As of the 11th of January we have committed to unblocking the following websites: NZ Family Planning, Rainbow Youth, The Word, PFLAG and Agender.

We are currently still working through our review of GayNZ.com, as there is some content on this site that we are not entirely comfortable with, particularly with regard to third party advertising which we believe is sexually explicit. We have contacted GayNZ.com in order to help find a mutually acceptable solution, if possible.

We hope this helps answer your questions and we thank you again for taking the time to contact us.

Yours sincerely,
Melissa Williams
Customer Service
34. 2011-01-18 15:14  
@ 1) WED

this Channel-Founder / SYS-OP at "gaymalaysia" IRC channel was an US-American who is not even gay. He was just a Psychopath.

His nick was/is "Bairen".

35. 2011-01-18 15:18  
@ 15) PWCCA

oh really ? well, until those providers BLOCK such content too.
because: they are the providers and have every right to BLABLABLA &%()=)$§(/)=$%
They actually already do block (manjam f.e. is blocked by many Malaysian providers).
I can't believe to read such a load of rubbish written by fellow gays.
such people like you make it easy for the haters and extremists to fight the gay community
36. 2011-02-06 03:55  
Bahhh!! McDonalds??? For heaven's sake, GMO fast food + transfats- something we should NOT even touch in the first place.
Ditto for KFC, BK, Carl's Jnr...avoid those places like the plague and I swear, yr skin will be 10x clearer + yr waistline will decrease by at least 2 sizes!!! And oh, add to that the pleasure of escaping their censorship...what have you got to lose?

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