Google To Oppose Internet Content Regulation In Europe

The Telegraph – Google, the giant internet search company, is to lead industry opposition to new proposals from the European Commission to regulate online content.

The company, which last week said it would self-censor its Chinese search engine to appease the country’s government, objects to the commission’s proposals to extend regulations in the Television Without Frontiers directive (TWFD) to cover video content shown on the internet.

James Purnell, the minister for creative industries, has backed Google’s stance.

He said: “There is no benefit to the consumer that justifies this move. This increased scope could mean significant regulation of the internet and stifle the growth of new media services. That would raise prices for consumers and deprive them of potential new services.”

Existing national laws that regulate TV broadcasting – for example, the British ban on tobacco advertising and child porn – were sufficient, he added.

I can’t do anything but applaud Google’s decision in this instance, but it does make their decision to bow to China’s censorship demands all the more bewildering.