Ofcom to be put in charge of regulating internet in UK

By Alex Hern and Jim Waterson

Web firm bosses could be fined or imprisoned if they do not protect users from harmful content

Ofcom will be put in charge of regulating the internet, the government has announced, with executives at internet firms potentially facing substantial fines or even prison sentences if they fail to protect users from “harmful and illegal content” online.

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”.

Source: Ofcom to be put in charge of regulating internet in UK

Category: Ofcom, Internet, Technology, Digital media, Media, Politics, UK news