Amateur 'video bloggers' under threat from EU broadcast rules.
By Adam Sherwin, Media Correspondent.
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”.
Viviane Reding, the Media Commissioner, argues that the purpose is
simply to set minimum standards on areas such as advertising, hate
speech and the protection of children.
But Shaun Woodward, the Broadcasting Minister, described the draft
proposal as catastrophic. He said: “Supposing you set up a website for
your amateur rugby club, uploaded some images and added a link
advertising your local sports shop. You would then be a supplier of
moving images and need to be licensed and comply with the regulations.”
The draft rules, known as the Television Without Frontiers directive,
extend the definition of broadcasting to cover services such as
video-on-demand or mobile phone clips.
Ministers argue that while television programmes should be subject to
minimum standards, the content of websites should not be subject to EU
regulation.
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