The Foreign Minister 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 broadcaster 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 July 22, 2025 programme, the letter stated.
When the complaint was first referred to The Platform, the online media organisation responded to the complainant: "You Plonker we aren't subject to the Broadcasting Standards Authority".
The letter then outlines the process to consider whether The Platform should be considered a broadcaster.
The Broadcasting Act defines "broadcaster" as a person who broadcasts programmes; "broadcasting" as any transmission of programmes; and "programme" as sounds or visual images, or combination of, intended to inform, enlighten or entertain, or promote the interests of any person, or promote any product or service.
Based on those definitions, it said it considered The Platform was broadcasting when airing the relevant content.
Free Speech Union (FSU) chief executive Jillaine Heather warned it was a "serious threat to free expression in New Zealand".
Heather explained Plunket had received a complaint from the BSA that his recent online comments breached broadcasting standards, asking whether the BSA was "claiming authority over internet content?"
She said Plunket was a veteran journalist and founder of The Platform who operates entirely online after repeated clashes with regulators and mainstream media.
"If the BSA is allowed to extend its reach into podcasts and online media, it will be policing speech it was never designed to regulate.
"This kind of mission-creep always starts with someone controversial. Today it's Sean Plunket. Tomorrow it could be anyone who asks the wrong questions."
Heather said the BSA had previously published material implying that freedom of expression itself can cause "harm", risking turning "regulators into censors, punishing opinions rather than protecting open debate."
The FSU called on Parliament to make clear the BSA had no authority over podcasts or internet content, and to ensure any future changes to broadcasting law were debated openly, "not smuggled in behind closed doors."
The BSA, Winston Peters and Sean Plunket have been approached for comment.
