Oh. I was going to ask about bum.

In the Netherlands, TV free speech is free from puritanical censorship.

A legendary example occurred in 2006 on the Dutch late-night talk show Jensen!. Host Robert Jensen bragged to his guests, Steve-O and Chris Pontius from Jackass, that the Netherlands has no bleeps or filters, telling them: "You can say whatever you want, you can even show your cock".

Taking it as a challenge, Steve-O immediately exposed himself on camera. True to Dutch broadcasting practices, the network aired the episode completely uncensored, resulting in no fines or regulatory penalties. This event highlighted the contrast with American broadcast standards, demonstrating the Dutch system's reliance on viewer discretion rather than government censorship.

In the Netherlands, the government does not police "moral decency" (swearing, nudity, or shock value) on television. If viewers don't want to see a naked body
or hear profanity, they are expected to change the channel.

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However, deliberate lying, propaganda, and state-sponsored disinformation are viewed as a direct threat to democratic stability. Free speech covers expressing opinions, but it does not protect intentional, malicious fraud designed to manipulate the public or undermine democracy.

How the System Works

Instead of a government agency (like the U.S. FCC) fining channels for saying bad words, the Dutch system uses a combination of media law and independent oversight:

- The Press Council (Raad voor de Journalistiek): This is an independent self-regulatory body. It maintains a strict Code of Journalism Ethics focused on truthfulness, verification, and fairness. While it primarily handles complaints via public accountability rather than legal fines, violating these standards ruins a network’s credibility.

- The Dutch Media Authority (Commissariaat voor de Media): This official regulator enforces the Dutch Media Act. While they strictly respect editorial independence from the government, they enforce rules regarding transparency and unlawful content.

- The Ultimate Red Line (Sanctions & Bans): A channel will not get banned for a shock stunt. However, if a broadcasting entity systematically acts as a funnel for covert foreign propaganda or coordinated malicious disinformation, such as violating national security laws or international sanctions (like the ban on Russian state-funded media outlets following the invasion of Ukraine), the government and the European Union have the authority to pull their broadcasting license and ban the channel entirely.