33
Significant regulatory gap in digital advertising allows harmful content monetisation; self-regulation is insufficient.
Conclusion
There is a regulatory gap around digital advertising, as much of the regulation and interventions have been industry-led and focused on tackling harmful advertising content, as opposed to the monetisation of harmful content through advertising. We are not convinced that the digital advertising industry is able, or willing, to effectively self-regulate. The government’s reliance on industry-led, content-focused solutions, is insufficient to meet the current scale of harm. One industry-led intervention that saw some success in increasing transparency and reducing monetisation of harmful content, the Global Alliance for Responsible Media, ended following legal challenge. (Conclusion, Paragraph 97)
Government Response
A response document is linked to this report, dated 17 October 2025. Response attribution to this conclusion has not been verified. Read the response document.
Source
Report
2nd Report – Social media, misinformation and harmful algorithms
11 Jul 2025
HC 441
Addressee Bodies
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
Timeline
Recommendation age
1.2 yr
Report published
11 Jul 2025