New Zealand bank Kiwibank faces a backlash after issuing copyright takedown notices aimed at viral social media memes depicting its new green-woolled sheep mascot, “Buck.” Several outlets report that the bank moved to remove content it described as “explicit,” prompting accusations that it is censoring users and stifling free expression.
The dispute centers on how different platforms and observers interpret the memes and the bank’s response. Coverage characterizes the situation as an “unlikely” or “unusual” free-speech row, with critics questioning whether a commercial mascot warrants takedown action when the posts are already part of online meme culture. Other accounts focus on the bank’s attempt to limit sexualized or offensive uses of the character, framing the move as enforcement of content rights rather than an effort to target debate or criticism.
Overall, outlets agree the takedowns relate to viral, meme-style images of the mascot and that the response draws public attention to the balance between copyright enforcement and online free speech.
