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Podcasting Censored by Government
PodCoward writes "VH is blogging that in Belgium a former talk-show host and now member of parliament for the biggest political party, Jurgen Verstrepen, received a fine of 12,500 Euro because he hadn't asked permission for his podcast." From the article: "The decision is apparently politically inspired and motivated by content, although formal reasons like non-compliance with Flanders' media regulation have been put forward in the motivation of the decision to fine. The issue has raised some serious concerns about free speech on the Internet in Flanders, about the definition of 'broadcasting,' and about territoriality."
The United States of America may be under the fascistic fist of George "Daddy's Vendetta" Bush but at least there's still a nodding recognition of freedom of speech.
Yet our partners in the European Union are dead set against it should it violate their belief structure or run against the grain of their idealistic liberalism.
If they keep up with this kind of thing, I'm moving to Canada!
...that it's still our internet, not theirs. This is just another example of the kind of government interference the high-minded international community would do if the UN took over the administration of the internet. If they were in charge, the podcast would have been pulled off the internet by government order.
Now I'm not saying that the US is the best government in the world or anything, but I am saying that we have better free speech protections than nations such as Belgiumm, France and Germany, and those countries are better than most.
144l. ph34r my 133t l3g4l 5k1lz!
Yeah... unlike in the USA, where things like racism etc. don't exist at all and where everyone has the same chance in life, no matter whether they are black or white, rich or poor, man or woman or heterosexual or homosexual...
At least people in Europe have the guts to say "we won't tolerate that crap!".
quidquid latine dictum sit altum videtur.
We just need to embrace this trend. For example, I term my posts here 'Slashcasts.' I think this can as far as it can be taken: Make a phone call, it's a voicecast. Purchase something in a store, it's a moneycast. Start up a myspace account, it's an egocast. I like it.
Now excuse me, I need to go post a new bowelcast. I think this is going to be my best one yet.
Slashdot - where whining about luck is the new way to make the world you want.
At the moment, the Belgium government is AGAIN trying to outlaw the biggest Belgian party Vlaams Belang!!!! We really need international support because the political climate is getting very dangerous here in Beglium.
PLEASE!! IF YOU CONSIDER DEMOCRACY IMPORTANT, HELP US!!