Britain is in a terrible and worsening mess, and it can never really change for the better – that is to say that no politician or party, no matter how well intentioned, will be able to set it firmly on the path to recovery – without media reform. Continue reading
The International Forum for Responsible Media Blog
Category: Media Regulation (Page 1 of 68)
Many thousands of people have complained to the so-called press regulator IPSO about Jeremy Clarkson’s revolting incitement to violent misogyny in the Sun newspaper. I can tell you now: IPSO will do nothing that might make the slightest difference. Continue reading
From what feels like time immemorial the UK government has paraded its proposed online harms legislation under the banner of ‘What is Illegal Offline is Illegal Online’. As a description of what is now the Online Safety Bill, the slogan is ill-fitting. The Bill contains nothing that extends to online behaviour a criminal offence that was previously limited to offline. Continue reading
Any commentary upon legislation in progress risks rapidly becoming outdated: an occupational hazard to which this piece is by no means immune. Continue reading
Part 3: Criticism
In a rare show of national unity, disapproval of the OSB has spanned both ends of the political spectrum. Alongside criticism from the Labour culture minister, Conservative politicians have also weighed in on the ‘legal but harmful’ debate. Thinktanks and non-profit groups have likewise been apprehensive.
A number of Bills proposed by the recent Conservative governments have sparked controversy among commentators: among them, the Northern Ireland Protocol Bill, the Retained EU Law Bill, and the ‘British’ Bill of Rights Bill. Taking its place in the rogues’ gallery is the Online Safety Bill (OSB)[pdf]. Continue reading
One of the key moments of the 2011 Leveson Inquiry into press standards came when the Daily Mail’s then-editor, Paul Dacre, took to the witness box to accuse Hugh Grant of pursuing “mendacious smears driven by a hatred of the media”. Continue reading
The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has launched a second consultation on a Draft Data Protection and Journalism Code of practice [pdf]. This is a statutory code under section 124 of the Data Protection Act 2018 (DPA 2018). The consultation was launched on 21 September 2022 and closes on 16 November 2022. Continue reading
Last week, London coroner Andrew Walker delivered his findings from the inquest into 14-year-old schoolgirl Molly Russell’s death, concluding she “died from an act of self harm while suffering from depression and the negative effects of online content”. Continue reading
Social media companies have done well out of the United States congressional hearings on the January 6 insurrection. They profited from livestreamed video as rioters stormed the Capitol Building. They profited from the incendiary brew of misinformation that incited thousands to travel to Washington D.C. for the “Save America” rally. They continue to profit from its aftermath. Clickbait extremism has been good for business. Continue reading
Recent Judgments
© 2023 Inforrm's Blog
Theme by Anders Norén — Up ↑