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European media scholars criticized a European Commission proposal for a new EU Directive on Audiovisual Media Services for its vague regulatory concept of 'non-linear audiovisual services' that would also affect the Internet. The criticism was expressed in the "Budapest Declaration for Freedom of the Internet" drafted by Peter Molnar, PhD, Senior research fellow at the Center for Media and Communication Studies at the Central European University. The Declaration is open for further signatures by media scholars.

"The unjustifiable restrictions suggested in the draft proposal of the European Commission would put freedom of speech and freedom of information at risk especially in Central-, and East-European countries where arbitrary use of the state regulatory power is more likely than at least in some West-European democracies," the scholars warn.

The draft Directive is meant to replace the Television without Frontiers Directive (TVWF) from 1989 (last revised 1997). It establishes regulations for two types of audiovisual media content: 'linear' and 'non-linear'. 'Linear services' are classic TV broadcasts. 'Non-linear services' include on demand services and commercial audiovisual content, also on the Internet.

The regulation for 'linear services' would be similar to those that the TVWF already imposes on TV services, but it would be simplified. 'Non-linear services' would be subject to a lower degree of regulation.

Despite the ongoing discussion there is still a considerable uncertainty on what kind of media could qualify as 'non-linear audiovisual media' that would fall under the basic tier regulation of the proposal.

Critics, also among delegations from European Union member states, fear that weblogs, online video games, or private websites with advertisement banners might also fall under the scope of this Directive, as they are not strictly 'non-commercial'.

Other examples for content that cannot be easily defined under the provisions of the proposal include newly emerging video hosting platforms like 'Youtube' or similar offers at 'Google', 'Yahoo' or elsewhere.

The European Commissioner for Information Society and Media, Viviane Reding, assures however that the proposal for the Audiovisual Directive is not about new restrictive provisions but will create the legal framework for new services in the internal market by further co-ordination of minimum standards. She states that the proposed piece of legislation complements other elements of Community legislation, especially the e-Commerce Directive that does not provide for harmonised rules in some essential areas of public interest such as the protection of minors.

The Budapest Declaration, on the other hand, expresses concerns that the "extension of the scope of some rather burdensome part of the Television Directive to the internet - as the draft new directive of the European Commission suggests in far too vague terms that would leave content providers and users uncertain about whether or not their various activities are regulated by this new directive - would be an unjustifiable restriction on freedom of speech and freedom of information."

Instead, the signatories argue, "the e-Commerce Directive of the European Union already provides the necessary regulatory framework for the information society services."

The Declaration has been submitted to Members of the European Parliament and is open for further signature by media scholars.

The European Commission submitted the proposal to the European Parliament on 13 December 2005. According to Commissioner Reding, the adoption by the Cultural Committee of the European Parliament is scheduled for October and finally the vote in plenary will take place in December 2006. A political agreement in Council could be reached under the German Presidency (1st half 2007) and the second reading could take place under the Portuguese Presidency (2nd half 2007).

Budapest Declaration for Freedom of the Internet (15.06.2006)
http://www.edri.org/docs/BudapestDeclaration.pdf

Signatures can be submitted to Peter Molnar and Laura Ranca
http://www.cmcs.ceu.hu:8080/cmcs/people/peter_molnar

Modernising the TV without Frontiers directive
http://europa.eu.int/information_society/newsroom/cf/itemlongdetail.cf...

EDRI-gram : Draft Audiovisual Media Services Directive under criticism (24.05.2006)
http://www.edri.org/edrigram/number4.10/audiovisual

(Contribution by Christian Möller)