The Government says it's confident that it can persuade the European Commission to change its plans to regulate online content.
The European Commission is currently reviewing the Television Without Frontiers directive, with Commissioner Viviane Reding planning to expand its scope to cover all online audiovisual content.
The UK Government has offered only veiled criticism of the plans. However, Minister for Industry and the Regions Alun Michael told Parliament last week, "I'm sure we'll be able to persuade [Reding] the process of revising the directive must be dynamic, forward-looking and imaginative."
His statement came as a leading Tory figure on technology issues joined the criticism of the plans, opening the way for a cross-party consensus on the issue.
"The European Commission's plan to regulate all audio-visual services is a matter for concern," said Tory backbencher Michael Fabricant. "It presents huge scope for unnecessary constraints. The Commission is suggesting a leap in the dark. Such a leap is completely unnecessary."
dti.gov.uk
Source: New Media Age Published: 15 December 2005
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