The EU is after us again

“The Government is seeking to prevent an EU directive that could extend broadcasting regulations to the internet, hitting popular video-sharing websites such as YouTube.

The European Commission proposal would require websites and mobile phone services that feature video images to conform to standards laid down in Brussels.

Ministers fear that the directive would hit not only successful sites such as YouTube but also amateur “video bloggers” who post material on their own sites. Personal websites would have to be licensed as a “television-like service”“

Amateur ‘video bloggers’ under threat from EU broadcast rules – Times OnlineIsn’t that nice. Once we finally replace the controllers of the message (distribution channels) with the Internet and hand off the keys of the gates from gatekeepers to prosumers who remix, amplify and refeed culture for our collective benefit, someone comes from the last decade and suggest that we take the same rules created for the old mass-distribution channels and apply them on the new mass-niche channels, or our children wont be safe. Wasn’t the whole point of broadcast licenses to prevent frequency
interference? This is not a problem with the internet today. Internet is not a series of tubes ;)This threatens not only our freedom of speech as in video, but also our ability to co-create the culture we so much love and the new democracy where everyone can have a voice rather than a vote. This is not only a question of culture and freedom but also a question of education. Think of learning object repositories, like LeMill, setup by the people for the people. Soon you need a broadcasting license to run one. Think of dynamic knowledge-creation centric sites that jam on videos created by others. Take for example this band. Once again you have to step down and submit yourself to those who have the money and the resources. Those who in their self-interest choose themselves what content is good for you, rather than allowing your audience to make the decision.Is this really something that separates EU in competition from others or does it hinder innovation, sending us back to the stone age? Hmm, I kind of like the ancient feeling of those black robes and sacred libraries…