Britannia Radio

TELEGRAPH Brussels Blog   24.9.08
Bruno Waterfield

Euro MPs to vote on anonymous blog ban
Euro MPs are preparing to vote on proposals for European Union 
regulation of blogs with the aim of countering a "dangerous" and 
unregulated blogosphere.

By Bruno Waterfield in Brussels

Marianne Mikko, an Estonian centre-left MEP, is concerned that 
growing numbers of blogs are being used by individuals with 
"malicious intentions or hidden agendas".

"The blogosphere has so far been a haven of good intentions and 
relatively honest dealing. However, with blogs becoming commonplace, 
less principled people will want to use them," she said.

Mrs Mikko has proposed that bloggers should be required to identify 
themselves and that some popular blogs should come with a declaration 
of interests.
"We do not need to know the exact identity of bloggers. We need some 
credentials, a quality mark, a certain disclosure of who is writing 
and why. We need this to be able to trust and rely on the source," 
she said.

Chris Heaton Harris, a British Conservative Euro MP, has rejected any 
moves to "regulate and restrict independent media sources".

"Mrs Mikko obviously does not understand that blogs have become the 
life blood of a vibrant democracy," he said.
"I hope these proposals are kicked out."

Thursday's vote in the European Parliament is not legally binding but 
is an indicator of growing EU concern over the influence of blogs on 
the internet.

A recent internal European Commission report, leaked three weeks ago, 
found that the EU was losing the battle for hearts and minds online.
"Blog activity remains overwhelmingly negative," it said.