Big broadcasters call for ‘independent oversight’ of online content

Jeremy Darroch, Chief
Executive of Sky, signed the letter.
Elisabetta Villa/Getty Images for National
Geographic

• A powerful group of British broadcasters signed a
  letter in the Sunday Telegraph calling for tighter regulation
  of online content.
• They specifically called for “independent oversight” in
  the form of a watchdog.
• Tech companies have come under heavy fire recently for
  how they regulate the content on their platforms.
• Traditional TV is under major threat as young people
  spend more time on the likes of Snapchat on YouTube than
  watching linear programming.

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A group of top British broadcasters have signed a letter calling
for more regulation of tech giants like Twitter, Google and
Facebook.

The letter was
published in the Sunday Telegraph and signed by the heads of
the BBC, Sky, ITV, Channel 4, BT, and Talk Talk. They called for
“independent oversight” of tech companies that publish news, in
the form of a watchdog.

“We do not think it is realistic or appropriate to expect
internet and social media companies to make all the judgment
calls about what content is and is not acceptable, without any
independent oversight,” said the letter.

“There is an urgent need for independent scrutiny of the
decisions taken, and greater transparency. This is not about
censoring the internet, it is about making the most popular
internet platforms safer, by ensuring there is accountability and
transparency over the decisions these private companies are
already taking.”

The signees said they see upcoming government proposals on
internet safety as a “golden opportunity” to address their
concerns.

Big tech companies have come under heavy fire recently for
misfires in the way they filter content. In July an undercover
investigation by Channel 4 revealed that
Facebook moderators in Dublin were being trained to leave images
of child abuse and racist memes on the platform. Last week,

the social network was criticised for deleting a post showing
nude, emaciated Holocaust victims.

At the same time, traditional TV is under considerable threat
from tech firms. A 2017 Ofcom report found that YouTube
was the most recognised content brand for viewers aged
between 12 and 15 years old. And only last week, Facebook

released its video-on-demand service, Watch, globally. 

Business Insider has contacted Facebook, Google, and Twitter to
ask for their response to the letter.

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