Social Networks face increased legislation following BBC investigation

MPs are set to consider if social networks require greater legislation to force them to improve the way they handle complaints. The parliamentary enquiry has been called after a BBC investigation highlighted issues around Facebook’s failure to remove sexualised images of children from its network.

Damian Collins, chair of the culture, media and sport committee, described Facebook’s failure to remove reported images as “disturbing” and suggested that the way the company handled complaints was inadequate.

The committee will decide if social networks should be held responsible for content (including illegal images, fake news, etc.) published on their sites which has been reported as inappropriate.

Speaking to the Oxford Media Convention, Collins said: “Should there be an offence to act on a referral?” That would create a massive incentive.”

Collins, who previously worked in the advertising industry, said: “Advertisers should say we won’t spend the money with you unless you use it the right way.”

He contined: “If you place a press ad, the editor is responsible for the content. The newspaper accepts responsibility for the content it prints. Why shouldn’t these rules apply to social media as well? Facebook is the principal paid-for tool for political communication.”

Collins argued that it is in the interests of social networks to get their house in order and said: “If their sites are full of fake news, bullying, people will go to other sites.”

Challenging the perception that social networks are simply technology companies and not publishers, Collins said: “Facebook is a major media platform. Just to say this is a technology platform isn’t good enough anymore.”

He then went on to highlight the fact that social media was now a mature industry controlling the “lion’s share” of the advertising market.

Facebook will face questions from parliamentarians later this spring.