City
Epaper

FB, YouTube may face heavy fines in UK for harmful content

By IANS | Updated: August 12, 2019 15:35 IST

Social networking giants Facebook, Instagram and YouTube are set to face heavy fines in Britain for failing to filter out harmful content on their platforms, the media reported.

Open in App

As part of the government's plan, Britain's broadcasting watchdog Ofcom would be given new legal powers to monitor, investigate and fine social platforms for sharing or live-streaming "harmful" videos, including pornography, violence and child abuse, the Telegraph reported on Sunday.

With the new powers, the broadcast watchdog of the UK would be able to issue fines of 250,000 pounds (around $300,000) or an amount worth up to five per cent of the company's revenue, if the sites fail to establish strict age verification checks and parental controls to safeguard kids from exposure to harmful videos.

If the tech giants fail to comply with enforcement measures, the Ofcom would have the authority to "suspend" or "restrict" the tech giants' services in the UK, The Sun reported on Monday, citing the Telegraph.

Reports about this new crackdown is seen as an interim measure and comes ahead of the UK government's White Paper plans for a statutory duty of care to combat online harms, the report said.

Over the last couple of years, several cases of teen suicides, supposedly encouraged by provocative content or trolling on social networking platforms have come to light.

Earlier this year, Facebook also received heavy backlash after video of the terrorist attack on Christchurch mosque in New Zealand was live-streamed.

Using "appropriate information gathering" powers, regulator ofcom may order sites like Facebook or Youtube to hand over data or algorithms which many say drive content to vulnerable children, the report added.

( With inputs from IANS )

Open in App

Related Stories

InternationalLiberal leader Mark Carney set to hold on to power in Canada

NationalBody of Indian Student Vanshika Saini Found on Ottawa Beach in Canada

International"I'm very grateful for it," American author Stephen Knapp on winning Padma Shri

International"Will serve yoga community in Kuwait, GCC," Padma awardee Sabah says post win

InternationalIsrael's Shin Bet chief announces resignation, will step down on June 15

टेकमेनिया Realted Stories

TechnologyAdani Green surpasses $1 bn in EBITDA in FY25, RE capacity up 30 pc to 14.2 GW

TechnologyPM Modi to address YUGM innovation conclave tomorrow

TechnologyNeed to target 1 billion UPI transactions a day in 2-3 years: FM Sitharaman

TechnologyCentre rolls out projects to boost fisheries in 7 coastal states

Technology34 supercomputers with 35 Petaflops capacity deployed across India: IT Ministry