“EU to register, control and charge bloggers”

According to the recent outcry in the Swedish blogosphere and some “liberal” MSM, the European Parliament (or “the EU”?) is going to enforce legislation forcing bloggers to register, publish their photo and name and pay a fee all in order to prevent wrong  or dangerous ideas being spread in an uncontrolled fashion. The initiative comes from an Estonian MEP, Marianne Mikko, who according to Swedish media has not been able to rid her self of her communist background and, according to freedom fighter Christopher Fjellner (conservative MEP), has “a hole in her head.”

EU Observer carries an article which puts things in the right perspective and so does Europaportalen (SW). It may be significant that we have only found one blogger with a knowledge of the facts and a cool head. We have to admit, however, that various statements to the press by Ms. Mikko, an individual MEP,  have been considerably less than helpful  to the sake of common sense.

This is not the first Swedish media storm over alleged EU attacks on personal freedom: News of an EU-tax on SMS and email as well as of a prohibition to sell home-baked cookies at charity events are other recent examples.  A combination of  a lack knowledge of how the EU works, British type tabloid sensationalism and the hidden agenda of a certain group of so-called liberals can make wonders in influencing the public opinion, a very useful thing in these days when the future of the Union is very much at stake.

As far as we can see there has not been any similar discussion in other member states. They are probably more inclined to accept Ceausesculike regulations to use a phrase from a leading Swedish newspaper.

27 June 2008 | Blogging | Comments