One week before the EU elections, the German YouTuber Rezo published an almost hour-long video titled “The destruction of the CDU”. In the video, the influencer – who usually posts light-hearted apolitical content such as YouTube challenges – sets out a broad range of arguments why the disregard of scientific evidence and resulting incompetent policy-making by the German parties CDU, SPD (and also far-right AFD) should convince citizens to vote for other parties. Read the rest of this entry »
Germany proposes Europe’s first diversity rules for social media platforms – Natali Helberger, Paddy Leerssen and Max Van Drunen
2 06 2019
Germany continues to spearhead the regulation of social media. Last year the country made headlines with the Netzwerkdurchsetzungsgesetz (‘network enforcement law’ or ‘NetzDG’), the most ambitious attempt to regulate platform content moderation processes in Europe to date. Now, the German Broadcasting Authority (Rundfunkkomission) has proposed another law targeting social media platforms, though it has has received far less attention than the NetzDG –and far less than it deserves. Read the rest of this entry »
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Tags: LSE. Media Policy Project, Natali Helberger, Paddy Leerssen and Max Van Drunen
Categories : Germany, Media Regulation, Social Media
What we know about how political parties use Facebook advertising and what we don’t – Katharine Dommett and Sam Power
29 05 2019
Over the past five years, Facebook has exploded as a site for political advertising and election campaigning. Donald Trump, Jeremy Corbyn and Angela Merkel have all used it to promote their ideas. Yet despite the increasing prominence of Facebook, we currently know very little about how much political parties actually spend on the platform. Read the rest of this entry »
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Tags: Facebook, Katharine Dommett, Political Advertising, Sam Power, The Conversation
Categories : Government and Policy, Social Media
The ‘Christchurch Call’ is just a start. Now we need to push for systemic change – Kevin Veale
17 05 2019
The “Christchurch Call” summit has made specific progress, with tech companies and world leaders signing an agreement to eliminate terrorist and violent extremist content online. The question now is how we collectively follow up on its promise. Read the rest of this entry »
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Tags: Christchurch, Kevin Veale, The Conversation
Categories : Government and Policy, Internet, Social Media
Tackling misinformation and disinformation online – Ashley Hurst
16 05 2019
This post explains why I think the Government’s White Paper on Online Harms and its so-called “duty of care” is not the answer to online disinformation and why the way forward should be focussed on technology and education. Read the rest of this entry »
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Tags: Ashley Hurst, Online Harms White Paper
Categories : Internet, Social Media
How do I access my loved one’s Apple account after their death? – Himsworth Scott
15 05 2019
What happens to our digital assets when we die is a question that has still not been finally answered. Here we provide information about developments and how you may be able to take action on social or digital media after a loved one dies.
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Tags: Death, Himsworth Scott
Categories : Social Media
The Rule of Law and the Online Harms White Paper – Graham Smith
12 05 2019
Before the publication of the Online Harms White Paper on 8 April 2019 I proposed a Ten Point Rule of Law test to which it might usefully be subjected. Read the rest of this entry »
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Tags: Cyberleagle, Graham Smith, Online Harms White Paper
Categories : Internet, Legal, Social Media
Facebook wants to combat fake news with ID checks: with ‘grave implications’ for our privacy – Fadi Safieddine
10 05 2019
The last time I recall someone demanding: “Show me your ID” was on the streets of Beirut during the final days of the civil war. Now, I get the same thing when I log into Facebook. Read the rest of this entry »
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Tags: Facebook, Fadi Safieddine, The Conversation
Categories : Privacy, Social Media
Users Behaving Badly: the Online Harms White Paper – Graham Smith
30 04 2019On 8 April 2019, having spent the best part of a day reading the UK government’s Online Harms White Paper, I concluded that if the road to hell was paved with good intentions, this was a motorway. After full and further consideration, I have found nothing to alter that view. This is why. Read the rest of this entry »
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Tags: Cyberleagle, Graham Smith, Online Harms White Paper
Categories : Internet, Media Regulation, Social Media
Online harms proposals represent the start of the journey – David Barker and Alex Keenlyside
27 04 2019
Last week the UK government published its white paper on online harms. The proposals are focused on what internet companies should do to help address what is an important and complex issue, and they should be viewed as the start of the journey rather than the destination. Read the rest of this entry »
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Tags: Alex Keenlyside, David Barker, Online Harms White Paper, Out-Law.com
Categories : Internet, Media Regulation, Social Media
