A spokesperson for Prime Minister Theresa May announced on Tuesday, October 10, that Britain is looking at the role of Facebook and Google in the provision of news and what their responsibilities and legal status should be.
The purpose? Since more and more people are starting to get their news through Facebook and Google, some in the sector say the internet behemoths are publishers and not just platforms. This means they should be held responsible for the content and that they should be regulated like conventional news providers.
“We are looking at the role Google (NASDAQ:$GOOGL) and Facebook (NASDAQ:$FB) play in the news environment,” the spokesman told reporters. He added that the work was part of a commitment to produce a digital charter which will set out how firms and individuals should behave online.
“As part of that work, we will look carefully at the roles, responsibility and legal status of the major internet platforms.”
Enders Analysis reported on Tuesday that 6.5 million British internet users claimed to primarily source their news from Facebook.
Theresa May’s June 2017 election manifesto promised a digital charter “that balances freedom with protection for users, and offers opportunities alongside obligations for businesses and platforms.”
The manifesto said the following: “We will ensure there is a sustainable business model for high-quality media online, to create a level playing field for our media and creative industries.”
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