What role will a new independent regulator play in online safety?

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A New Independent Regulator Will Oversee Online Safety and Enforce New Standards

A new independent regulator will be established to address harmful online content, with powers to mandate transparency reports from platforms and issue codes of practice. This entity will be responsible for ensuring social media companies and other online platforms take greater responsibility for the content shared on their services. The regulator's actions are intended to compel companies to actively manage and mitigate the spread of harmful material, thereby enhancing user safety.
Mandating Transparency Reports

The proposed independent regulator will have the authority to require platforms to produce annual transparency reports. These reports will detail the prevalence of harmful content disseminated on their sites and outline the measures taken by the companies to address these issues. This measure aims to create accountability by making the extent of harmful content and the response to it publicly visible.
Issuing Codes of Practice

Beyond demanding transparency, the regulator will be empowered to issue codes of practice. These codes could stipulate specific requirements for online companies, such as the mandatory employment of fact-checkers. Such provisions are considered particularly crucial during sensitive periods like elections, where the rapid spread of disinformation can have significant consequences.
Enforcing Legal Duty of Care

The establishment of this regulator is part of a broader governmental effort to place a legal duty of care on online companies. Prime Minister Theresa May has indicated that social media executives could potentially be made personally liable for harmful content. This signifies a shift away from self-regulation towards legally enforceable obligations for platforms to protect their users, especially children and young people.

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What role will a new independent regulator play in online safety?

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