Not really a new story, but in a video report by BBC’s Click programme, France’s broadcast regulator were apparently too busy to talk with Click reporters regarding their decision to ban mention of social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter on radio or television - unless they are specifically part of the story.

About half way through the story we see a shot of the French broadcast regulator’s office (screen capture above) showing a huge—funny I might add—stack of books behind two employees. I don’t know why, but this shot just made me burst into spontaneous laughter. I guess they’re just too busy immersed in research to explain their position on this issue to the media.

The Huffington Post sheds some light on this story: 

The reason for the ban goes back to a 1992 decree that says mentioning such services by name is an act of advertising. Therefore, using the terms “Twitter” and “Facebook” constitutes preferential treatment.

It’s interesting to note Facebook and Twitter are privately owned American companies, and we all know of the long, tumultuous love/hate relationship between the Americans and the French. Freedom fries anyone?