There is an “urgent” need for regulatory oversight of social media content, according to the UK’s leading broadcasters and internet service providers. In a letter to The Sunday Telegraph, the heads of ITV, Channel 4, Sky, the BBC, TalkTalk and BT argue such oversight would not be censorship because the tech companies already control content. The government is working on a white paper on Internet safety, and the Telegraph says potential interventions currently under private debate include the creation of a body along the lines of the UK’s Advertising Standards Authority (which reports to Ofcom), which it says could oversee Facebook, Google and Twitter to decide whether to remove material in response to complaints from users. “The government should ensure that any new regulation does not restrict freedom or innovation on platforms like Facebook, Twitter and YouTube,” they write. Proposals could reportedly include the creation of an organisation which would oversee the main social media platforms.
There is an “urgent” need for regulatory oversight of social media content, according to the UK’s leading broadcasters and internet service providers. In a letter to The Sunday Telegraph, the heads of ITV, Channel 4, Sky, the BBC, TalkTalk and BT argue such oversight would not be censorship because the tech companies already control content. “The government should ensure that any new regulation does not restrict freedom or innovation on platforms like Facebook, Twitter and YouTube,” they write. Proposals could reportedly include the creation of an organisation which would oversee the main social media platforms.