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[Engadget] Germany wants to regulate a 24 hour live stream as a broadcaster

4K views 119 replies 26 participants last post by  randomizer 
#1 ·
Quote:
You might want to think twice about running a non-stop livestream just because you can -- at least in Germany, regulators will want to have a word with you. They've told the 24-hour let's play channel PietSmietTV that it has to apply for a broadcasting license by April 30th if it wants to keep running. While it's operating through Twitch and YouTube instead of TV or radio, it technically meets all the legal definitions of a broadcaster: it's a "linear information and communication service" aimed at the public, with an editorial focus and not meant for personal purposes. Channel founder Peter Smits is respecting the decision, so there isn't going to be a fight.

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source
 
#3 ·
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Originally Posted by epic1337 View Post

technically any form of public livestreaming is broadcasting, even if its not 24/7.
so i don't see anything wrong with this.
Yep that's what I always thought. So governments can bring taxes and sometimes directly get involved with your content? Maybe you get fined if you curse on live streaming etc... These can happen.
 
#4 ·
Germany taking their time to go after the oh so much important things. Not like there's anything else they should be going after.
rolleyes.gif
 
#5 ·
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Originally Posted by iARDAs View Post

Yep that's what I always thought. So governments can bring taxes and sometimes directly get involved with your content? Maybe you get fined if you curse on live streaming etc... These can happen.
you won't get taxed if you don't earn anything from it, plus getting taxed is completely logical to begin with.
getting a permit though could probably turn a lot of people off, specially if theres strict requirements plus cash.

public propaganda is supposedly illegal, so yeah, the government can get involved in certain aspects that encroaches into legality issues.
 
#6 ·
I'm sorry, but I have a huge problem with this. The reason governments can somewhat regulate content on a BROADCAST is because the spectrum is limited. Be it TV or Radio, those things BROADCAST on a limited spectrum.

This makes ZERO sense to me why they would regulate a spectrum-less system, except to expand government control.

This disturbs me.....deeply.
 
#7 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by LancerVI View Post

I'm sorry, but I have a huge problem with this. The reason governments can somewhat regulate content on a BROADCAST is because the spectrum is limited. Be it TV or Radio, those things BROADCAST on a limited spectrum.

This makes ZERO sense to me why they would regulate a spectrum-less system, except to expand government control.

This disturbs me.....deeply.
Agreed. Could be a slippery slope to the smaller twitch and YouTube streamers. They are also going after FB for "fake" news. It's one thing to report Adam Sandler died today (again), but what if it's an unpopular news piece on government? I wonder how whom they let decide what's real and what's not.
 
#8 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by LancerVI View Post

This makes ZERO sense to me why they would regulate a spectrum-less system, except to expand government control.
reducing fake rumors or news, blocking propaganda, or blocking scandals.
all of those that can affect public opinion and cause mass panic are normally controlled by the government.
thats why certain things can't be done on air, cussing, showing gore, insulting someone, etc. are normally censored off.

though the most probable reason is that the government is probably just wanting to tax livestreamers.
 
#9 ·
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Originally Posted by epic1337 View Post

reducing fake rumors or news, blocking propaganda, or blocking scandals.
all of those that can affect public opinion and cause mass panic are normally controlled by the government.

thats why certain things can't be done on air, cussing, showing gore, insulting someone, etc. are normally censored off.
....and you're ok with that? On the internet?

Ok.........wow.
 
#10 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by LancerVI View Post

....and you're ok with that? On the internet?

Ok.........wow.
if it shuts off trolls, then yes?

its just like having forum rules really, in fact OCN forum rules works like this, its not there to stop you from doing anything that isn't illegal.
if you can't accept the rules then submit a petition with a clear reason why you don't want them, thats how politics works.
 
#12 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by epic1337 View Post

if it shuts off trolls, then yes?

its just like having forum rules really, in fact OCN forum rules works like this, its not there to stop you from doing anything that isn't illegal.
if you can't accept the rules then submit a petition with a clear reason why you don't want them, thats how politics works.
...and who gets to decide who's trolling or not???

This is absolute insanity.
 
#15 ·
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Originally Posted by GoLDii3 View Post

Germany taking their time to go after the oh so much important things. Not like there's anything else they should be going after.
rolleyes.gif
Ditto. They have crazy amount of crazy rules/laws.

Honestly I was expecting something like, 24h live streams are hazardous to health lol Getting fined if the person doesn't take a predefined break during the stream.

I were the person/company affected, I would just move out of Germany
biggrin.gif
 
#16 ·
Germans don't understand the concept of "moderation" or "middle ground," with those krauts everything is either full-bore obligatory or totally verboten, but always maxed out to the extreme in their approach

they are also an irritatingly preachy lot when they feel inclined to comment on what happens in the US, as if they haven't built themselves a tight little panopticon hivemind that's likely ruled by ex-Stasi operatives. I'll be sure to bookmark this story for the next time a kraut tells me my country is headed off a cliff, yeah sure thing Hans!
 
#17 ·
OCN logic:

Government wants to regulate livestream as broadcaster - move out of the country, totalitarianism and the end of free speech is nigh!

ISPs want ownership of your livestream and the right to sell it without your consent before it even reaches YouTube - no big deal just means better ads
 
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#18 ·
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Originally Posted by lombardsoup View Post

Germany is already at the point where trolls can be prosecuted. Over words. The very notion is ludicrous. Forget slippery slope, this is straight off the cliff.
Oh...I know. My wife is a German National. She's taken to liberty quite nicely and never wants to live in Germany again.
Quote:
Originally Posted by claes View Post

OCN logic:

Government wants to regulate livestream as broadcaster - move out of the country, totalitarianism and the end of free speech is nigh!

ISPs want ownership of your livestream and the right to sell it without your consent before it even reaches YouTube - no big deal just means better ads
I think both are terrible.

But the problem with people like you, who trust government over any other entity; is just crazy and nonsensical. I just don't understand the mind of the Statist.
 
#19 ·
there's something so....German...about this almost as if the regulators were in a room together at Minitrue and one says "Ve need somezing else to regulate" and after some chin-stroking another says "Gott in Himmel, liveschtreams...ve could totally regulate zat!"

do our regulators even know what livestreaming is? I have my doubts
 
#20 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by LancerVI View Post

But the problem with people like you, who trust government over any other entity; is just crazy and nonsensical. I just don't understand the mind of the Statist.
I did not claim to think as much, am not a statist (like, at all), and attempted to give this thread the courtesy of not making assumptions about particular individuals and instead characterizing the rhetoric of OCN - I hope you can afford me a similar courtesy!
 
#21 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by lombardsoup View Post

Germany is already at the point where trolls can be prosecuted. Over words. The very notion is ludicrous. Forget slippery slope, this is straight off the cliff.
Totally depends on how far they took the prosecuting troll law, you can't deny that a lot of trolls need to be reigned in, there's been several studies that show trolls are essentially, sadists with some narcissism and sociopathy mixed in.

You can't let people like that get away with stuff that directly impacts the quality of lifefor your citizens - because as you mentioned, slippery slope.

It's a bad solution to a bad problem that can't be solved without infringing on our rights.
 
#22 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by DIYDeath View Post

Totally depends on how far they took the prosecuting troll law, you can't deny that a lot of trolls need to be reigned in, there's been several studies that show trolls are essentially, sadists with some narcissism and sociopathy mixed in.

You can't let people like that get away with stuff that directly impacts the quality of lifefor your citizens - because as you mentioned, slippery slope.

It's a bad solution to a bad problem that can't be solved without infringing on our rights.
So you solve it with shadowbanning, censorship and thoughtcrime? That's what this is.
 
#23 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by LancerVI View Post

I'm sorry, but I have a huge problem with this. The reason governments can somewhat regulate content on a BROADCAST is because the spectrum is limited. Be it TV or Radio, those things BROADCAST on a limited spectrum.

This makes ZERO sense to me why they would regulate a spectrum-less system, except to expand government control.

This disturbs me.....deeply.
Well its socialist Germany, why would you be surprised? Funny to see people who are so worried about M$ and other companies stealing their liberty all the sudden unconcerned when government steps in and tries to do a cash grab...
 
#24 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by lombardsoup View Post

So you solve it with shadowbanning, censorship and thoughtcrime? That's what this is.
Unless you can demonstrate that Germany's broadcast regulations result in "shadowbanning, censorship and thoughtcrime" then no, it's not.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Majin SSJ Eric View Post

Well its socialist Germany, why would you be surprised? Funny to see people who are so worried about M$ and other companies stealing their liberty all the sudden unconcerned when government steps in and tries to do a cash grab...
You really shouldn't use words you don't know the meaning of... It's hard to imagine profiting off of someone's labor with market-entry fees as anything other than capitalist (compare to the "last mile"), even if it is a state that is doing it...

Obviously this is neither here nor there since one could hardly characterize any nation or economy as socialist, particularly given the global nature of the contemporary economy.
 
#25 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by Majin SSJ Eric View Post

Well its socialist Germany, why would you be surprised? Funny to see people who are so worried about M$ and other companies stealing their liberty all the sudden unconcerned when government steps in and tries to do a cash grab...
Its an interesting double standard to watch on this thread, especially considering M$'s very cozy relationship with the US and EU member states. You'd be a fool to think companies and and government aren't joined at the hip.
 
#26 ·
OCN logic:

Corporations = Evil Empire
Government = Benevolent Utopians

Remind me again which of these actually has the power to throw you in prison?
 
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