Plans have emerged for YouTube localization, with plans for sites for Ireland, Brazil, France, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Poland, Spain and the UK.

According to the press release on ENN, this “localization” means the sites will be:

…translated fully, with local homepages and search functions. Over time, an entirely ‘local’ experience will be added that will allow for country-specific video rankings and comments, as well as country-specific Video, Channel, Category and Community sections.

I’d imagine that the the UI of other language versions is a natural candidate for social translation, with the bulk of the localization actually coming from user-provided content.

On a related point, it has also recently been announced that Internet TV operation BabelGum is to set up HQ in Ireland, with former Oracle and Microsoft localization head Michael O’Callaghan as COO.

Meanwhile, the European Union, have stolen a march on events, and gone ahead with the Web 2.0 e-government approach of EUTube on YouTube.

Watch this space.