YouTube yesterday launched a localised Australian version of the site to better cater for their 3 million odd Australian users.
Even before the site gets up and running, the Australian government is already threatening to look in to the kind of material which is posted on it.
The Federal government is promising to look at the legislation in place and see if the content put online can be controlled in any way.
YouTube Is Special
Obviously YouTube have reacted badly to this threat from on high, with the company’s international manager, Sakina Arsiwala suggesting that online media should be treated differently from traditional television or print media saying:
“I don’t think YouTube is a broadcaster, so I think that’s something… we have to clarify.”
“We think the value proposition for platforms like YouTube is that everybody gets a voice, so we want to be able to give the common person, the user, regular person on the road a voice.”
“If anything we want free speech to be preserved, and that voice to be preserved because it’s a very very powerful voice.”
Well she would say that wouldn’t she. The question remains as to whether online media companies are a law unto themselves, or whether they should have to respect the local laws pertaining to decency and content.
Conclusions
I think the Australian government may be fighting a losing battle, but maybe they are right to explore the possibility of legislation to control what kind of videos are uploaded from within their borders.
As always, let us know what you think, I’d be particularly interested to hear from Australian YouTube users concerned about their freedom of speech.
