UK to empower media regulator Ofcom to regulate internet, remove 'harmful' content

[xeni]

Originally published at: https://boingboing.net/2020/02/12/ofcom-awfulness.html

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[LDoBe]

Ofcom over regulation considered harmful

[renato]

@xeni

Instead, it will require internet companies such as Facebook and Google to publish explicit statements setting out which content and behaviour they deem to be acceptable on their sites.

So if the companies say that anything not illegal is acceptable in their websites, the regulatory body will only punish them if they remove something?

[fuzzyfungus]

@xeni

Instead, it will require internet companies such as Facebook and Google to publish explicit statements setting out which content and behaviour they deem to be acceptable on their sites. The media regulator will then ensure internet businesses enforce these standards “consistently and transparently”.

Does this mean you can get away with a nakedly cynical moderation policy aimed exclusively at juicing the bottom line; so long as you are willing to tell Ofcom that Moderation For Mammon is your policy ahead of time?

[anon59592690]

If they’re not axing the Daily Mail Online then what’s the point?

[anon62122146]

@xeni

Under the proposals, Ofcom will not have the power to remove specific posts from social media platforms. Instead, it will require internet companies such as Facebook and Google to publish explicit statements setting out which content and behaviour they deem to be acceptable on their sites. The media regulator will then ensure internet businesses enforce these standards “consistently and transparently”.

And this is the fundamental problem with the centralization of the internet. Governments can censor much more effectively by deputizing tech companies to do it for them than they could if they had to get an individual court order for every post they want taken down.

[anon32019413]

Please protect me from harmful combinations of pixels.

The wire fraud and identity theft I’ll have to deal with myself of course.

[lumbercartel]

I wonder how long it will be before Boing Boing gets blacklisted or fined into oblivion.

Aside: at least the comments are working again after yesterday’s silly “radiation blocking fungus” story.

[FGD135]

Aw, look. The UK is still trying really hard to be the ‘safest place to be online in the world’

Aw, look. The UK is still trying really hard to be the 'safest place to be...

[bobstreo]

this is the way the internet ends, not with a bang but with a censor

[JohnEightThirty]

On the one hand, George Orwell. But, on the other hand, Russian trolls on Facebook. So, damned if I know.

[bloodybl]

Damn disgrace! People should be allowed to spread revenge porn online, corrupt democracy, and engage in internet bullying. If the social media platforms can’t be bothered to do anything serious about it, that’s their business!

[dpease]

Leadership in British society is busy getting dunked on by the Brexiteers and Meghan Markle. There’s no way they’re up to regulating inappropriate content in the clown.

[anon73430903]

@JohnEightThirty

On the one hand, George Orwell. But, on the other hand, Russian trollies on Facebook. So, damned if I know.

Just fight the authoritarians, whoever they are.

[anon73430903]

I expect TERFsnet will also survive while any trans resource will eventually be taken down to ‘protect’ the children.

[Entity447B]

The last time UKgov leant in to censorship, one of the banned categories was “esoteric content”, so find a safe place to hide that copy of The Golden Bough