Brian Gerrish and Mike
Robinson discuss the attempted ATVOD regulation/censorship of the UK Column in a
non-television-like way. (25 mins)
 |
PRESS RELEASE - ATVOD: A Major Risk To Freedom of Speech on the Internet
The following press release has been issued by the UK Column. If you
can help spread this to anyone you know in the media, politicians or other
interested parties, it would be greatly appreciated. There is a pdf
version available for download on the UK Column website - http://www.ukcolumn.org/article/where-have-all-uk-column-videos-gone-upd....
--FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Thursday, 26th June 2014 ATVOD: A Major Risk To Freedom of Speech on the Internet The UK government has finally moved to directly regulate Youtube content and internet freedom of speech. On the 2nd February 2014, the UK Column received a letter from ATVOD, the Authority for Television On Demand. ATVOD is a subsidiary of Ofcom, the UK government’s communications regulator. The ATVOD letter gave notice to the UK Column that as the result of a Statutory Instrument amendment to the 2003 Communications Act, the UK Column was required to notify ATVOD that it was running “an on demand programme service”, to pay a fee, and to submit to regulation. ATVOD mainly chooses organisations to regulate based upon whether or not they are perceived to produce “television-like programmes”. In several television conversations between the UK Column and ATVOD, an ATVOD representative admitted that there is no fixed standard for what constitutes “television-like” video content, and that their determinations are made on purely arbitrary opinion. When asked by the House of Lords Select Committee on Communications Inquiry on Media Convergence and Its Public Policy Impact on the 5th February 2013 if “[ATVOD] had trouble defining [television-like services], Ruth Evans Chairman of ATVOD replied, ”yes. It is an evolving art.” It is on the basis of the “evolving art” statement that ATVOD’s claims of a “light regulatory burden” should be seen. At present ATVOD claims to exist in order to prevent harmful material becoming available to children and to prevent hate speech. It is clear, though, that anyone submitting to the current “light regulatory framework” joins a fluid and evolving regulatory framework with potentially draconian financial penalties. The penalties allowed for through the Communications Act 2003 amount to 5% of the regulated organisation’s turnover or £250,000, whichever is the greater amount. Following discussion with ATVOD, the UK Column made the decision that ATVOD’s requirements would be detrimental to our freedom of speech and expression on the internet, and we would not submit to regulation by ATVOD. ATVOD subsequently issued an “enforcement notice” giving the UK Column ten working days to comply with their demands. Having carefully considered our options, we decided to cease the activity which ATVOD describes as an “on demand television service”, and removed all UK Column video on demand content from the internet.
UK Column co-editor Brian Gerrish says, “this represents an immediate
and dangerous attack on free speech on the internet and should be of
massive concern to all Youtube users, as the government seems to be moving
to censor individuals directly, putting them on the same regulatory
footing as global corporations like the BBC and CNN. As a government
agency, ATVOD’s clearly flawed working practices and their alignment to
the corporate media pose a direct threat to our personal liberty and
freedoms.”
UK Column co-editor Mike Robinson says, “it used to be that to produce
high quality ‘studio based’ video content, the financial barrier to entry
was very high. Today, with ‘television studios in a box’ costing as little
as a few hundred pounds, ATVOD seems to be attempting to extend its remit
to even the “one man band” producer operating out of his bedroom. This is
a dangerous road to tread.”
For editors:
Further detail can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p0zP0ATo15w
The UKColumn is a self funded voluntary community news organisation
receiving no commercial advertising or sponsorship. It particularly
focuses on the exposure of fraud, corruption and crime within the UK's
political and banking arena, and the interwoven stealing, trafficking and
abuse of children facilitated by paedophiles at the highest level of the
political and establishment society. UKColumn has been fearless in
exposing the subversive activity of the political charity Common Purpose,
the BBC and other major mainstream media, and has led publicity of several
unique cases of child stealing and abuse by the British State. Working
alongside the British Constitution Group, the UK Column has also continued
to track and expose the wider subversive Westminster attack on the British
Constitution and Bill of Rights - two vital foundation stones of our
freedoms and liberties. UK Column has also been at the forefront of the
campaign to reinstate the Bradbury Pound as our debt free national
currency.
The UK Column’s Brian Gerrish and Mike Robinson can be contacted by
telephone on +44 1752 478050, or by email at editor@ukcolumn.org ATVOD is the independent co-regulator for the editorial content of UK video on demand services that fall within the new statutory definition of On Demand Programme Services. ----------------------- Documentary Maker Needs Your Help Marco Jackson has produced a superb documentary entitled The Truth Behind The Dash For Gas. The full documentary as it stands is available for viewing here: https://vimeo.com/93174379 Although the documentary is finished in terms of content, it still needs to brought up to broadcast standard if it is to go on general release, and for that Marco needs to raise some money. He is running a Kickstarter campaign to raise £4,500, of which £1,825 is already raised. If you can help with any contribution, no matter how small, please go to https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/952900563/the-truth-behind-the-dash-for-gas Thank you! |
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