New watchdog will get power to curb the online giants
WEB to account and giants Google by such an will independent as be Facebook held laws regulator to be set under out proposed by the Government The new watchdog next will week. have the power other sanctions. to impose hefty fines and
Government’s The plans have long-awaited been set out White in the Paper usher in on sweeping Online changes Harms designed and will to But bring critics the tech have firms raised to heel. fears that the laws could have unintended consequences affecting smaller web firms and online news websites.
The White Paper comes after Australia passed a controversial law that could see tech bosses jailed if they allow videos showing ‘abhorrent violent’ acts to be live-streamed on was days, may traditional the said Arthur their Australian rushed the curb sparking Moses, platforms. law free media through could Law speech president criticism as Council, The well. lead in and two bill to of it media using light that There Facebook, on social whistleblowers censorship abuses. is growing media Google, to and concern shine Twitter from prevent a fuelling and spreading and damaging other divisions misinformation. tech democracy in firms society are by White for Under the Paper, first in the the time tech changes Government have firms a legal proposed will ‘duty of care’ to their users. And – in a move that will alarm Silicon Valley chiefs – directors could be made personally liable for the companies’ failures under a new code of conduct. Last night digital minister Margot James said: ‘The key things we are consulting on are the need for a statutory regulator, backed up by a powerful independent regulator who will be holding internet companies to account.’
The Government’s White Paper has not stipulated how big a fine the regulator should be able to impose. But Miss James said it was ‘inconceivable’ that the new watchdog would not have fining powers, and suggested that it could impose penalties that in the case of Facecould hit £1.7billion – 4 per cent of their global turnover.
That would be in line with the scale of fines imposed for data protection breaches
The Government will have the power to direct the watchdog to crack down on specific issues, such as terror material and child sexual exploitation online.
It will oblige tech firms to produce annual reports, setting out how much harmful content there is on their platforms and how they plan to tackle it. They will also have to cooperate with the police if they are found to be hosting illegal content.
The proposed laws are likely to be welcomed by online safety campaigners.
Criticism of the web giants grew after an inquest into the death of Molly Russell highlighted the vast troves of unsuitable material they host. Molly, 14, took her life after viewing ‘suicide porn’ and self-harm images on Instagram, owned by Facebook.
Last night the NSPCC said: ‘Time’s up for the social networks. They’ve failed to police themselves and our children have paid the price.’
‘Hold companies to account’