Earlier this week we learned that the EU has initiated a cooperation with Facebook, Twitter, Youtube and Microsoft to swiftly remove internet content that we are not supposed to see. Link»
And now the EU Commission would like to regulate what can be shown on tv, on-demand-services such as Netflix and possibly even Youtube.
The new suggested rule is that at least 20 percent of all on-demand content and 50 percent of all television content must be produced in Europe.
This is suggested in the revision of the EU Audiovisual Media Services Directive (AVMSD). Link»
In other words, in one weeks time, the EU has launched a new level of Internet censorship – and suggested new guidelines for what kind of audiovisual content the people ought to consume.
This is bad, in so many ways.
First of all, who are politicians and eurocrats to tell us what audiovisual content we are supposed to watch?
Second, it is totally absurd that the country of origin of a tv-production should decide if it is to be shown or not, rather than its subject, quality, and public demand.
Third, this is ill-conceived cultural protectionism.
Fourth, when the ruling political class tries to control what audiovisual content we can or cannot, should or should not see – society is swiftly moving in a totalitarian direction.
These suggested EU rules must be stopped.
/ HAX
Hey, I don’t think it will be an issue because the quota is very low.
We need to preserve diversity. Diversity is very much in danger when we hear the same music, wear the same clothes and the watch the same tv shows everywhere in the world.
Cultural works are exempted from trade clauses. Even in the 1960ths we still had import quota on US movies in most European states which resulted in a more diverse European cinema.