Another one of these completely useless regulations is being thought up in the city of Manneken Pis, and the press, for once, is reporting on it:

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

So the members - at least in theory - have to introduce them. Want to stifle some unwanted reporting? Do it by law, and not just by your whims, like YouTube recently did, when some videos were deemed 'Hate speech':

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.

'Protect the Children' sounds like a noble deed, right? If you have problems with folks sexually abusing children, the hangman's probably more appropriate and does not infringe on the rights of the remaining folks. But the impact may be wider:

“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.”

And these regulations could be very onerous. If even only trying to open a new TV channel is such a chore in Germany, just go and figure what small-time video sites (with 'site' being defined very broadly here) would have to do in relation, with their limited resources? Just the documentation requirements should be enough to send such ideas back into the depths of impossibilities.

“The real risk is we drive out the next MySpace because of the cost of complying with unnecessary regulations,” Mr Woodward said. “These businesses can easily operate outside the EU.”

Sure, and they already do. That's why the US have way more in things like internet business. Maybe the EU should take a hint and dump a whole lot more proposed and existing regulations since businesses thrive in such economical climates. And if democracy cannot counter 'hate speech', then we can just take it one step further have Singapore-style 'democracy'. At least over there, unemployment is vastly lower than in 'old Europe'. But it seems the support for such a regulation is not very enthusiast, as of now:

Mr Woodward is seeking EU member state support for the British compromise. So far only Slovakia has pledged support, but Mr Woodward believes that other nations will come onboard before a key EU Council meeting on November 13.

Oh well, these Slovaks at least have some good memories from the times of CSSR, and what's more important, experience. An experience nobody in the EU really needs.

Except if they need to stop critical voices all over Europe.

And who says the kraken from Brussels and Strasbourg won't extend such rules to text-based blogs one day in order 'to protect the print and online press'?