It seems the push for economic growth will not come at any cost because Labour has laid lines in the sand over online safety.
Social media platforms like Meta and X may loosen their own guidelines on what is permissible in order to appease Donald Trump but that won’t cut any ice when national legislation comes into play, the UK government has warned.
And this is fine because the changes announced by Mark Zuckerberg apply only to the United States in any case.
Here in the UK we have the Online Safety Act 2023, under which large social media platforms have to make sure illegal content – including hate speech – is removed, enforce their own content rules and give users the means of screening out certain types of harmful content if they choose to do so.
But here’s a thing: where was the Online Safety Act when social media misinformation triggered a wave of rioting across the UK last summer with a false claim that a Muslim immigrant attacked a Taylor Swift-themed dance class, killing three girls and injuring 10 others?
Buy Cruel Britannia in print here. Buy the Cruel Britannia ebook here. Or just click on the image!
In fact, it was a 17-year-old Brit, but that didn’t stop the lies being amplified by foreign state media, far-right influencers, and even some politicians.
So when Science and Technology Secretary Peter Kyle [pictured] says, “We have not only led the world in online safety, I think we’ve done it in a way which is sensitive and on the side of innovation,” I think we can all be justified in doubting him.
And here’s a thing: back in July and August last year, This Site was among those that were trying to spread the facts. What happened? I got stamped on – by the social media platforms that Peter Kyle expects to toe the line now. The message didn’t get out and a lot of towns and cities ended up in a mess.
By a curious coincidence, when I checked my physical mailbox today, I found a letter from the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, responding to my concerns that the social media platforms are choking off the readership of sites like Vox Political.
It’s only six months since I first wrote to the government about this, but better late than never, right?
It states: “As you highlighted in your email, there are a small number of digital companies, like X and Meta, which have a significant influence on our economy and society. The government takes the matter seriously.”
Really?
“This is why the government has prioritised the introduction of a new digital markets regime as part of the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers (DMCC) Act 2024 to promote dynamic and competitive digital markets.
“The DMCC Act which had cross-party support, introduces faster, more effective tools to address the unique competition challenges in the digital economy.”
Apparently the new regime came into force from January 1 “and will play a significant role in holding a range of digital companies accountable.”
Really?
Well, it sure needs to.
How much did those riots cost the country, again? And who profited from them?
I’m going to call in some help on this one, and it may take a while.
But there is progress. Let’s see where it takes us.
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Buy Vox Political books so we can continue
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Cruel Britannia is available
in either print or eBook format here:
The Livingstone Presumption is available
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Health Warning: Government! is now available
in either print or eBook format here:
The first collection, Strong Words and Hard Times,
is still available in either print or eBook format here:
Labour has laid lines in the sand over online safety. SO WHAT?
It seems the push for economic growth will not come at any cost because Labour has laid lines in the sand over online safety.
Social media platforms like Meta and X may loosen their own guidelines on what is permissible in order to appease Donald Trump but that won’t cut any ice when national legislation comes into play, the UK government has warned.
And this is fine because the changes announced by Mark Zuckerberg apply only to the United States in any case.
Here in the UK we have the Online Safety Act 2023, under which large social media platforms have to make sure illegal content – including hate speech – is removed, enforce their own content rules and give users the means of screening out certain types of harmful content if they choose to do so.
But here’s a thing: where was the Online Safety Act when social media misinformation triggered a wave of rioting across the UK last summer with a false claim that a Muslim immigrant attacked a Taylor Swift-themed dance class, killing three girls and injuring 10 others?
Buy Cruel Britannia in print here. Buy the Cruel Britannia ebook here. Or just click on the image!
In fact, it was a 17-year-old Brit, but that didn’t stop the lies being amplified by foreign state media, far-right influencers, and even some politicians.
So when Science and Technology Secretary Peter Kyle [pictured] says, “We have not only led the world in online safety, I think we’ve done it in a way which is sensitive and on the side of innovation,” I think we can all be justified in doubting him.
And here’s a thing: back in July and August last year, This Site was among those that were trying to spread the facts. What happened? I got stamped on – by the social media platforms that Peter Kyle expects to toe the line now. The message didn’t get out and a lot of towns and cities ended up in a mess.
By a curious coincidence, when I checked my physical mailbox today, I found a letter from the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, responding to my concerns that the social media platforms are choking off the readership of sites like Vox Political.
It’s only six months since I first wrote to the government about this, but better late than never, right?
It states: “As you highlighted in your email, there are a small number of digital companies, like X and Meta, which have a significant influence on our economy and society. The government takes the matter seriously.”
Really?
“This is why the government has prioritised the introduction of a new digital markets regime as part of the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers (DMCC) Act 2024 to promote dynamic and competitive digital markets.
“The DMCC Act which had cross-party support, introduces faster, more effective tools to address the unique competition challenges in the digital economy.”
Apparently the new regime came into force from January 1 “and will play a significant role in holding a range of digital companies accountable.”
Really?
Well, it sure needs to.
How much did those riots cost the country, again? And who profited from them?
I’m going to call in some help on this one, and it may take a while.
But there is progress. Let’s see where it takes us.
Vox Political needs your help!
If you want to support this site
(but don’t want to give your money to advertisers)
you can make a one-off donation here:
Be among the first to know what’s going on! Here are the ways to manage it:
1) Register with us by clicking on ‘Subscribe’ (bottom right of the home page). You can then receive notifications of every new article that is posted here.
2) Follow VP on Twitter @VoxPolitical
3) Like the Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/VoxPolitical/
Join the Vox Political Facebook page.
4) You could even make Vox Political your homepage at http://voxpoliticalonline.com
5) Follow Vox Political writer Mike Sivier on BlueSky
6) Join the MeWe page at https://mewe.com/p-front/voxpolitical
7) Feel free to comment!
And do share with your family and friends – so they don’t miss out!
If you have appreciated this article, don’t forget to share it using the buttons at the bottom of this page. Politics is about everybody – so let’s try to get everybody involved!
Buy Vox Political books so we can continue
fighting for the facts.
Cruel Britannia is available
in either print or eBook format here:
The Livingstone Presumption is available
in either print or eBook format here:
Health Warning: Government! is now available
in either print or eBook format here:
The first collection, Strong Words and Hard Times,
is still available in either print or eBook format here:
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