Italy Floats Official Permission Requirement for Web Video Uploads 131
An anonymous reader writes with some bad news from Italy, noting that new rules proposed there would "require people who upload videos onto the Internet to obtain authorization from the Communications Ministry similar to that required by television broadcasters, drastically reducing freedom to communicate over the Web." Understandably, some say such controls represent a conflict of interest for Silvio Berlusconi, "who exercises political control over the state broadcaster RAI in his role as prime minister and is also the owner of Italy's largest private broadcaster, Mediaset."
Italian Booty (Score:5, Insightful)
I get the distinct impression will be seeing a surge in Italian YouTube videos with a "Screw you, Berlusconi" theme.
That's insane (Score:5, Insightful)
Thankfully, I think that this could be circumvented easily, by transferring video files to another country in an encrypted form, then getting friends in the other country to unencrypt and upload it for you.
I need bureaucracy! (Score:4, Insightful)
This is not new in Italy (Score:4, Insightful)
Right... And you think this because... (Score:5, Insightful)
Thankfully, I think that this could be circumvented easily, by transferring video files to another country in an encrypted form, then getting friends in the other country to unencrypt and upload it for you.
You've never mentioned the word "encryption" in casual conversation with non I.T. related friends and relatives?
Re:I need bureaucracy! (Score:3, Insightful)
Yup, not like the DMCA causes problems on the net...
Or American businesses bullying other countries or generally making a mess of things.
The US has plenty of their own shit to fix before yelling at anyone else :-p
Re:And yet, the italians keep voting for this guy (Score:3, Insightful)
They vote for him, thus they get what they want and deserve.
Democracy works that way, and people are not entitled to good outcomes when they make stupid decisions.
Re:Italy isn't a good place. (Score:3, Insightful)
If one doesn't live in North Kora, there is no reason to care what Italians choose for themselves. The country has been a joke since before the Korean War, the citizens choose their fate, and it's none of our business what they do to each other.
Re:That's insane (Score:3, Insightful)
No. You know how it will be circumvented?
By about 60 million people just not caring.
Or is there even a single person there who still does not think and say fuck Berlusconi at every chance he can get? ^^
Of course, Italians are a bit like we here in Germany: The broad majority of the people, including the military, the police, and other state workers, might agree that they strongly disagree with something. And they might even know that they all agree. Yet they still cave in and fear a teeny tiny group of assholes who are very sure of themselves, excusing it with the like “But alone, I can’t change anything!“. :(
Was the case back then. And unfortunately, nothing is changed.
Somehow I have the feeling that’s also the reason for the mafia.
And yet I can’t give up on them. Their food is too delicious! ;)
Re:That's insane (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:Italy isn't a good place. (Score:4, Insightful)
It is "unusual" in the sense that all the countries that at least pretend to operate under some sane judiciary principles do not allow cops to also become juries, judges and executioners all rolled into one, instead they go for the "innocent until proven guilty" ideal. Allowing police to collect fines on the spot is the very anathema of this, the assumption is that whomever the cop fingers is "guilty until proven innocent".
Consider what happens if an incompetent or malicious cop decides to go after you: you get for all practical purposes robbed at gun-point and it is then up to you to run through the hostile, bureaucratic rigmarole to attempt to prove your innocence and maybe even to get some of your fine back. Most people will simply be cowed into subservience and the police will assume the role it ever desires in every country: as the lynch-pin of a police-state.
Re:Constitution, People! (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:And yet, the italians keep voting for this guy (Score:4, Insightful)
> Democracy is the worst system except for all the others...
Which is a good reason to have as little democracy as possible and none of anything else.
Re:Enforcement? (Score:4, Insightful)
> How exactly would they enforce this?
Selectively, of course. That's the whole point of such laws.
Re:Constitution, People! (Score:4, Insightful)
Paper doesn't blush.
The Soviet Union also had a constitution. With rights for free press, free speech and so on in it.
Re:That's insane (Score:3, Insightful)
No. You know how it will be circumvented?
By about 60 million people just not caring.
That doesn't really help. No, they won't be enforcing and punishing everyone. But they will target specific persons with it to silent and shut them down.
Re:Italy isn't a good place. (Score:2, Insightful)
How cute and clue-free is THAT comparison?
North Korea is an active military threat to South Korea and an exporter of weapons to our enemies. North Korea is no joke, and nearly pushed UN forces into the sea during the first part of the Korean War. While what Norks do to each other DOESN'T matter much (Asia follows Asian rules beyond our judgement), what their government does has considerable effect.
Italy is a peaceful country at the bottom of Europe. and unlike North Korea is run by its people however imperfectly. It has little effect on anywhere else, no military that mattered since WW1, and no interest in regaining its Empire. So what if Italians do silly shit to each other? That's an internal matter.
Re:Italian Booty (Score:2, Insightful)
BTW he is one of the most successful, post WW 2, Italian leaders. I very much doubt he will be out anytime soon.