UK unveils tough plans to oversee social media
Print Edition
The UK unveiled plans yesterday to vastly increase government oversight of social media companies, with a first-of-its-kind watchdog that could fine executives or even ban companies if they fail to block content such as terrorist propaganda or images of child abuse.
As concerns mount globally over how to monitor Internet material without stifling free speech, the British proposal reflects a push by some countries 鈥 particularly in Europe but also Australia and New Zealand 鈥 to give regulators more power.
The British plans would create a statutory 鈥渄uty of care鈥 for social media companies such as Facebook and Twitter to protect people who use their sites. The plan, which includes an independent regulator funded by a levy on Internet companies, will be open for public comment for three months before the government publishes draft legislation.
鈥淣o one in the world has done this before, and it鈥檚 important that we get it right,鈥 Culture Secretary Jeremy Wright told the BBC.
While the United States has largely relied on market forces to regulate content in a country where free speech is revered, governments in Europe have signaled they are willing to take on the tech companies to block harmful content and prevent extremists from using the Internet to fan hatred.
Britain will consider penalties which permit fines of up to 4 percent of a company鈥檚 annual worldwide revenue. In extreme cases, the government may also seek the power to fine individual company directors and prevent companies from operating in the UK.
Criticism of social media sites has grown amid concerns that militants or far-right political groups are using them to recruit young people, pedophiles are using the technology to groom victims and young people are sharing dangerous information about self-harm and suicide.
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