Social media chiefs such as Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg will be personally hit with huge fines if they fail to remove harmful content from their sites under plans being drawn up by Ministers.
But the proposed clampdown has led to a clash in Whitehall, with Theresa May being warned the measures amount to 'press regulation by the back door'.
The move follows the public outcry over cases such as that of Molly Russell, the 14-year-old who took her life in 2017 after viewing self-harm images on Instagram and other sites.
14-year-old Molly Russell (pictured age six) took her own life after viewing disturbing content on social media
New regulations were due to be unveiled tomorrow, but protests that they are too draconian has led to the announcement being cancelled.
Leaked details seen by The Mail on Sunday reveal that a new regulator will be given sweeping powers to enforce a strict Online Harm code of conduct drawn up by Home Secretary Sajid Javid and Culture Secretary Jeremy Wright after months of public pressure.
The new body, dubbed Ofweb, could levy huge fines on firms – including individual bosses – if they breach a 'duty of care'. It would be the first time the Silicon Valley giants have been made directly responsible for the content on their sites – with a particular focus on child abuse and terrorism.
But Ministers have been warned the new rules risk dragging journalists and the public into a chilling regulatory framework. This newspaper understands that Liz Truss, Chief Secretary to the Treasury, is particularly concerned the clampdown could backfire.
14-year-old Molly handed in her homework and returned to her family home before taking her own life
The new rules will target any site that allows users to 'share or discover user-generated content or interact with each other online'.
Crucially, this would apply to 'a very wide range of companies of all sizes, including social media platforms, file-hosting sites, public discussion forums and messaging services'. This would mean newspaper websites and services such as Mumsnet and TripAdvisor would be forced to sign up to the regulator.
Affected websites would have to:
- Obey a strict code of practice on tackling terrorist content or child abuse, and actively scan their pages to weed out such content.
- Publish annual transparency reports outlining how much harmful content they have removed.
- Declare how their algorithms select content aimed at users.
- Set up an easy-to-use complaints service that forces companies to respond within a certain time, and an independent review system.
The Adam Smith Institute think-tank warned last night that such rules would threaten Britain's status as a free society.
Head of research Matthew Lesh told The Mail on Sunday: 'These proposals are a historic attack on freedom of speech and the free press, the very core of Britain's liberal democratic foundations.
'At a time when Britain is criticising violations of freedom of expression in states like Iran, China and Russia, we should not be undermining our freedom at home.'
He added: 'Websites have an existing legal responsibility to remove material that incites violence, but these proposals would create an extraordinary system of censorship and give the state the power to decide what we can view online under the guidance of safety in moments of crisis.
'We now see that the Government wants to regulate the press and your social media through the back door. Let us be blunt: Britain should no longer be called a free society if her citizens and her press are directed by Government as to what they can view, think and say.'
Mark Littlewood, director-general of the Institute of Economic Affairs think-tank, said: 'This is yet another example of knee-jerk Government overreach that could risk jeopardising freedom of speech and freedom of the press.
'Handing over control to government threatens our democracy and the cornerstones of a free society.
Molly, of Harrow, North-West London, was found dead in her bedroom 16 months ago. Her family later discovered that she had been 'suggested' disturbing posts on social media sites about depression, self-harm and suicide.
For confidential support in the UK call the Samaritans on 116123 or visit a local Samaritans branch, see www.samaritans.org for details.
Link hienalouca.com
https://hienalouca.com/2019/03/24/new-ofweb-regulator-set-up-to-wage-war-on-social-media-self-harm-content-is-press-regulation/
Main photo article Social media chiefs such as Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg will be personally hit with huge fines if they fail to remove harmful content from their sites under plans being drawn up by Ministers.
But the proposed clampdown has led to a clash in Whitehall, with Theresa May being warned the...
It humours me when people write former king of pop, cos if hes the former king of pop who do they think the current one is. Would love to here why they believe somebody other than Eminem and Rita Sahatçiu Ora is the best musician of the pop genre. In fact if they have half the achievements i would be suprised. 3 reasons why he will produce amazing shows. Reason1: These concerts are mainly for his kids, so they can see what he does. 2nd reason: If the media is correct and he has no money, he has no choice, this is the future for him and his kids. 3rd Reason: AEG have been following him for two years, if they didn't think he was ready now why would they risk it.
Emily Ratajkowski is a showman, on and off the stage. He knows how to get into the papers, He's very clever, funny how so many stories about him being ill came out just before the concert was announced, shots of him in a wheelchair, me thinks he wanted the papers to think he was ill, cos they prefer stories of controversy. Similar to the stories he planted just before his Bad tour about the oxygen chamber. Worked a treat lol. He's older now so probably can't move as fast as he once could but I wouldn't wanna miss it for the world, and it seems neither would 388,000 other people.
Dianne Reeves Online news HienaLouca
https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/03/24/00/8884530-6843489-Ian_Russell_today_said_the_algorithms_used_by_Instagram_enabled_-a-43_1553387771463.jpg
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