British government involvement in Youtube censorship

Dear Mr Walker,

FOI CASE: 113082

Thank you for your Freedom of Information request about the British
government and YouTube, which was received 2 March 2009.

You asked to be supplied with:-

1. a copy of the policy documents relating to government meddling
with Youtube content and your legal justification for interfering
with free speech;

2. the name of the government department that Youtube consults with
regarding these and other "distasteful" videos;

3. the name of the "third party acting on behalf of the British
government".

We are dealing with your request under the Freedom of Information Act
2000.
We aim to reply to your request within 20 working days following the day
on which we received your request.

Please do not hesitate to contact me if I can be of further assistance.

Regards,
Sharon Lewry
FoI Central Team
Public Engagement and Recognition Unit

Department for Culture, Media and Sport
2-4 Cockspur Street
London SW1Y 5DH
Tel: 0207 211 6307
Website: [1]www.culture.gov.uk
DCMS aims to improve the quality of life for all through cultural and
sporting activities, to support the pursuit of excellence and to champion
the tourism, creative and leisure industries

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Dear Mr Walker

FOI CASE 113082

Thank you for your Freedom of Information request as below.

You asked for:

1. "A copy of the policy documents relating to government meddling with
YouTube content and you legal justification for interfering with free
speech.
2. The name of the government department that YouTube consults with
regarding these and other `distasteful' videos;
3. The name of the `third party acting on behalf of the British
Government' "

Your request has been dealt with under the Freedom of Information Act
2000. Under the Act, you have the right to:

* Know whether we hold the information you require
* Be provided with that information (subject to any exemptions under the
Act which might apply)

Following a search of our records, I can confirm that the department holds
no information relating to your request.

I will address each point of your enquiry separately:

1. A copy of the policy documents relating to government meddling with
YouTube content and your legal justification for interfering with free
speech.

The Home Office leads on legislation on allegedly harmful internet content
and the Ministry of Justice has policy responsibility for the law on
obscene pornography and sites that encourage suicide, hosted in the UK.
You may wish to direct your enquiry to them using the links provided
below.
Home Office: [1][email address]
Ministry of Justice: [2][email address]

2. The name of the government department that YouTube consults with
regarding these and other `distasteful' videos
The government departments responsible for legislation and policy on these
areas are the Home Office and the Ministry of Justice.

3. The name of the `third party acting on behalf of the British
government'
Following a search of our records, I can confirm that the department holds
no such information.

Further Advice
If you are dissatisfied with any aspect of our response to your request
for information and/or wish to appeal against information being withheld
from you, please send full details within two calendar months of the date
of this letter to:

FoI Central Team
Public Engagement and Recognition Unit
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
2-4 Cockspur Street, London,
SW1Y 5DH.

You have the right to ask the Information Commissioner (ICO) to
investigate any aspect of your complaint. Please note that the ICO is
likely to expect internal complaints procedures to have been exhausted
before beginning his investigation.

Please do not hesitate to contact me if I can be of further assistance.

Regards,
Sharon Lewry
FoI Central Team
Public Engagement and Recognition Unit

Department for Culture, Media and Sport
2-4 Cockspur Street
London SW1Y 5DH
Tel: 0207 211 6307
Website: [3]www.culture.gov.uk
DCMS aims to improve the quality of life for all through cultural and
sporting activities, to support the pursuit of excellence and to champion
the tourism, creative and leisure industries

show quoted sections