New CDEI report calls for social media regulation overhaul
Feb. 4, 2020NEWS FROM THE OPEN KNOWLEDGE FOUNDATION
EMBARGO: IMMEDIATE
NEW REPORT CALLS FOR SOCIAL MEDIA REGULATION OVERHAUL
The Centre for Data Ethics & Innovation has called for an overhaul of social media regulation to ensure platforms are accountable for how content is targeted at users, the process is more transparent, and users have more control.
Recommendations from the UK government advisory body on data technology include regulation of the online targeting systems that promote and recommend content like posts, videos and adverts.
It also calls for platforms to host publicly accessible online archives for ‘high-risk’ adverts, including political ads.
Last month, Facebook refused calls for it to change its policies on fact-checking political adverts and limit microtargeting.
Google previously said it is limiting political ads audience targeting to more general categories, and Twitter has banned political ads.
The Open Knowledge Foundation has been campaigning for greater openness.
Catherine Stihler, chief executive of the Open Knowledge Foundation, said: “This is a welcome and timely report from the CDEI, and the UK Government should urgently prioritise the recommendations to help build a fair, free and open future.
“The public is demanding greater transparency and openness from social media platforms, particularly around political adverts, with tech giants accepting money for ads which contain disinformation.
“Some social media firms have taken voluntary action, but the long-term solution to this does not involve self-regulation – it requires the UK’s analogue laws to be updated for the digital age.
“We look forward to these recommendations being introduced and monitored, and hope other civil society organisations also push for implementation.”
ENDS
NOTES TO EDITORS
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cdei-review-of-online-targeting
Contact: Alan Roden at [email protected] or +44 (0)7753 904 531
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