Europe looks at regulating converging media

The New York Times reports European media regulators are being pushed into unchartered waters as television broadcasting, the Internet, e-mail and other forms of communication are being transmitted by an increasing array of devices, from television, to cellphones and computers. The European Commission is expected to present proposals to extend content regulation to new media by the end of the year. Any change would require amending the Television Without Frontiers directive, a measure that sets out broad guidelines for television regulation across the EU. The directive requires member states to ensure the separation of advertising and programming, to restrict hate speech and to protect minors, among other things, but it leaves implementation up to individual countries. Full report in The New York Times