NCC Chairperson, Dr. Howard S.H. Shyr, met with Honored Prof. Wolfgang Hoffmann-Riem of University of Hamburg and his wife at NCC on November 5. Both parties discussed and exchanged views on the challenges that have arisen from communications cross-sector operations and convergence.
　After the discussions, Prof. Wolfgang Hoffmann-Riem gave a talk entitled “Broadcasting Independence in Regulation- German Experience.” During the presentation Prof. Hoffmann-Riem explained his observations of emerging media content regulations after convergence with NCC staff and guests. Dr. Chun-Chen Hsu from Institute of the Law of the Sea, National Taiwan Ocean University translated.
　Dr. Hoffmann-Riem described how that the Germany Constitution ensures the independence of media and their staff. With regards to the freedom in newsroom, it relies on internal guidelines between the employer and the employees, which is known as “inner broadcasting freedom (內部廣電自由).” Germany has rather stricter regulations in traditional broadcasting. The Government, in principle, has a “hands-off” policy, and only monitors the broadcasting organization structure, regulation measures and capital.
　In addition, Dr. Wolfgang Hoffmann-Riem indicated that web browsers and search engines often advertise customization and tailor- made contents for individual users. In other words, they function as gatekeepers to filter information. However, users often overlook the danger that the information they receive is “manipulated” during the receiving process.
　Dr. Wolfgang Hoffmann-Riem, an esteemed scholar in international laws, is a former judge of the Federal Constitutional Court, Minister of Justice of the State of Hamburg, a member of commission of experts on new media, Baden-Württemberg, of the commission of enquiry on new information and communications technologies of the German federal parliament and Commission on Media Responsibility. The famous legal scholar also conducted research in Stanford University and Harvard University in the USA. He has considerable expertise on the development and regulation of new media technology in convergence, and is responsible for numerous publications in the fields of broadcasting laws, social media groups, German Constitution, administrative laws, commercial laws and environmental laws. Dr. Hoffmann-Riem first visited Taiwan in 1965 as a student; this was his second trip to Taiwan tracing his footsteps.