UK: 'social media needs controlling'
Posted: Wed Feb 12, 2020 10:26 amThe UK has joined the list of countries fed up with social media companies that spread rumour, lies, negative content and internet cruelty in the name of 'freedom' (read: 'freedom to make lots of money for Silicon Valley to the detriment of the rest of society') .
Today the UK Government has given its regulatory authorities sweeping new powers to punish and censure runaway social media firms found guilty of disrupting and disturbing the peaceful operation of society:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-51446665
Today the UK Government has given its regulatory authorities sweeping new powers to punish and censure runaway social media firms found guilty of disrupting and disturbing the peaceful operation of society:
New powers will be given to the watchdog Ofcom to force social media firms to act over harmful content.
Ofcom will have the power to make tech firms responsible for protecting people from harmful content such as violence, terrorism, cyber-bullying and child abuse - and platforms will need to ensure that content is removed quickly.
Julian Knight, chair elect of the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee which scrutinises social media companies, called for "a muscular approach" to regulation.
"That means more than a hefty fine - it means having the clout to disrupt the activities of businesses that fail to comply, and ultimately, the threat of a prison sentence for breaking the law," he said.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-51446665