Monetising harmful content
Significant regulatory gap in digital advertising allowing the monetisation of harmful content, with insufficient industry self-regulation.
84 items
3 sources
1 inquiry
Strongest theme matches
Mixed across source types and ranked by classifier confidence plus text match strength.
Committee recommendation
100match
#37 - Empower Ofcom to issue penalty notices to platforms for monetising harmful content on their services.
There are insufficient disincentives for bad practice in the digital advertising market. Bad actors can exploit the ecosystem, monetising harmful content through major platforms. Following Principle 3, Ofcom should be empowered to give penalty notices to platforms when they allow harmful content to be monetised through their services. These penalties should be based on a formula that considers:...
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terms: content, harmful, monetising
Committee recommendation
100match
#33 - Significant regulatory gap in digital advertising allows harmful content monetisation; self-regulation is insufficient.
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,...
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terms: content, harmful
Committee recommendation
95match
#31 - Under-regulated digital advertising market incentivises and monetises harmful content, often without advertisers' knowledge.
The global digital advertising market is overcomplicated, opaque and under-regulated, operating through an enormous, automated and inaccessible supply chain. This directly leads to the production, viral spread and monetisation of harmful and deceptive content, often without advertisers’ knowledge. Platforms and advertisers appear to be either unable or unwilling to address this problem. We heard evidence that platforms may...
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terms: content, harmful
Committee recommendation
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#34 - Establish new arms-length body or extend Ofcom's powers to regulate digital advertising supply chain.
Tackling online harm means addressing the principles that incentivise and monetise its spread. In line with Principle 3, responsibility, the government should create a new arms-length body—not funded by industry—to regulate and scrutinise the process of digital advertising, covering the complex and opaque automated supply chain that allows for the monetisation of harmful and misleading content. Or, at...
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terms: content, harmful
Committee recommendation
81match
#35 - Mandate the Advertising Standards Authority to establish comprehensive digital advertising ecosystem guidelines for all actors.
To tackle the incentive behind amplified misinformation—namely, the monetisation of harmful content—there should be clear and enforceable standards for digital advertising market processes, as well as advertising content. Following our Principles 1, 3 and 5, government should ask the Advertising Standards Authority to establish comprehensive guidelines for 59 all actors within the digital advertising ecosystem and supply chain....
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terms: content, harmful
PFD report
69match
Molly Russell
Internet platforms lack age verification, age-specific content control, and parental monitoring features, exposing children to harmful material through algorithms and unrestricted access.
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terms: content, harmful
Committee recommendation
65match
#26 - Review Online Safety Act's fitness for purpose in tackling hateful online extremism.
The Government should review whether the existing legislative framework, including the Online Safety Act, is fit for purpose in tackling hateful extremism. The review should specifically consider whether further regulation is required to tackle the posting of and promotion of hateful content, including increased transparency in the use of algorithms and AI and on advertising revenue generation, and...
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terms: content
PFD report
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Isabella Shere
Quora's platform contains easily accessible, unmoderated content related to self-harm and suicide, lacking age verification and featuring engagement functions that normalise serious subject matter for children.
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terms: content
Committee recommendation
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#1 - 1st Report - Growing up in the online world: The Education Committee’s response to the Government’s...
The Committee concludes that online harms affecting children are widespread, severe and systemic. The evidence we heard demonstrates clear links between children’s exposure to harmful online content (including material promoting self-harm, suicide, eating disorders, misogyny and sexual exploitation) and serious deterioration in mental health, wellbeing and behaviour, with tragic consequences in the most extreme cases. (Conclusion, Paragraph 6)
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terms: content, harmful
Committee recommendation
57match
#32 - Google's monetisation of misinformation highlights systemic failures within the digital advertising industry.
In particular, we were concerned by evidence that Google may have helped to monetise misinformation relating to the attacks, contributing to the violence. This is unacceptable, and is just one example of a much wider problem with the digital advertising industry. We are concerned that Google was seemingly unaware of the chain of events when we asked them...
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Committee recommendation
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#3 - 1st Report - Growing up in the online world: The Education Committee’s response to the Government’s...
The Committee is clear that the companies whose platforms are responsible for these harms cannot be left to self-regulate. We recommend that the Government treats online harms to children explicitly as a safeguarding and public health issue, rather than relying primarily on content moderation and reactive reporting systems. Preventative regulation should focus on reducing exposure to harm by...
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terms: content
Committee recommendation
51match
#21 - Second Report - Economics of music streaming
Safe harbour provisions that have been transposed into UK law have profoundly impacted the market for digital music consumption. YouTube’s dominance of the music streaming market shows that the market has tipped. Safe harbour gives services that host user-generated content (UGC) a competitive advantage over other services and undermine the music industry’s leverage in licensing negotiations by providing...
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terms: content
Committee recommendation
51match
#4 - 7th Report – Combatting new forms of extremism
Harmful extremist content is circulating widely online, driven by engagement and profit-maximising algorithms, influencer-led dissemination, and decentralised extremist ecosystems. These systems promote content designed to provoke outrage and fear, often purely for commercial reasons, and the speed and scale of dissemination have outpaced the capacity of moderation and removal tools. Content designed to attract, recruit and radicalise individuals...
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terms: content, harmful
Committee recommendation
51match
#14 - Second Report - Tackling online abuse
The Government’s regulatory proposals should encourage social media companies to prevent or reduce the risk of users being harmed by abusive and hateful content in the first place, not just remove or otherwise deal with such content as it arises. However, the draft Online Safety Bill gives Ofcom very limited scope to ensure platforms are taking positive steps...
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terms: content, harmful
Committee recommendation
49match
#36 - Mandate ‘Know Your Customer’ checks and platform data disclosure for digital advertising supply chain transparency.
The internet, and social media, could not operate without digital advertising. Given its implications for public safety, as per Principle 5, there needs to be heightened transparency in the market processes of online advertising. Government should mandate ‘Know Your Customer’ checks for participants in the programmatic advertising supply chain, as exists in other large markets. The government should...
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Committee recommendation
49match
#25 - Online platforms facilitate religious hatred with inadequate regulation and consequences.
At present people can stir up religious hatred online in the knowledge that their comments are unlikely to be removed and, except in the most extreme cases, are unlikely to face any consequences for their actions. While some individuals have been prosecuted for posting hate speech, the platforms that facilitate it have faced no consequences, if anything they...
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Committee recommendation
47match
#2 - 1st Report - Growing up in the online world: The Education Committee’s response to the Government’s...
These harms are not accidental or isolated, but occur because of platform design choices, including algorithmic recommendation systems, infinite scrolling, autoplay and private messaging features, which repeatedly expose children to harmful or exploitative content at a scale which reactive moderation by the companies is not effectively addressing. (Conclusion, Paragraph 7)
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terms: content, harmful
Committee recommendation
47match
#15 - Second Report - Tackling online abuse
We support calls for the Online Safety Bill to include a foundational duty on platforms to protect users from reasonably foreseeable risks of harm identified in their risk assessments, including harm arising from abusive content that is legal but harmful to adults. We recommend that this should include an explicit expectation that platforms consider how not only content...
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terms: content, harmful
Committee recommendation
43match
#3 - Second Report - Tackling online abuse
Our predecessor Petitions Committee’s report concluded that self-regulation of social media had failed. Despite the user safety tools and innovations platforms have introduced since then, these companies have continued to place insufficient priority on user safety to protect users from abusive and hateful behaviour on their platforms, or ensure users are able to effectively raise their concerns when...
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Committee recommendation
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#27 - Extend legislation to prohibit individuals or companies enabling or profiting from another's online prostitution.
Legislation which bans third party profit-taking from the prostitution of another person should be extended to prohibit any individual or company from enabling and/ or profiting from the prostitution of another person, including facilitation that takes place via online, digital services, websites and the internet.
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Committee recommendation
40match
#17 - Fifth report: Protecting pension savers—five years on from the pension freedoms: Pension scams
The move online by pension scammers has been a recurring theme of our inquiry. Regulators appear powerless to hold online firms to account for hosting scam advertisements in the same way they would be able to for traditional media. Scammers using paid-for online advertisements appear to be particularly hard to tackle without the co-operation of the hosting firm....
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Committee recommendation
40match
#26 - Websites advertising prostitution facilitate sexual exploitation; collaboration with them is inexplicable and ineffective.
Websites advertising prostitution significantly facilitate trafficking for sexual exploitation. The threat posed by websites advertising prostitution, the continuing failure of their owners to implement even the most basic safeguards against pimping and trafficking, and the sheer scale of trafficking for sexual exploitation they facilitate, is at total odds with the National Crime Agency and Home Office’s decision to...
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Committee recommendation
35match
#37 - Fourth Report - The Financial Conduct Authority’s Regulation of London Capital & Finance plc
We recommend that the Government should include measures to address fraud via online advertising in the Online Safety Bill, in the interests of preventing further harm to customers being offered fraudulent financial products.
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Committee recommendation
35match
#35 - Fourth Report - The Financial Conduct Authority’s Regulation of London Capital & Finance plc
It is very disappointing to see that despite the numerous representations made to the Government, measures to address fraud via online advertising have not been included in the draft Online Safety Bill. This is a missed opportunity to act and potentially help prevent another LCF-type event. The increasing frequency of fraudulent activity online that leads to scams and...
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Committee recommendation
35match
#21 - Eleventh Report - Economic Crime
The Joint Committee on the Draft Online Safety Bill concluded that self-regulation of online platforms had failed. It is true that there have been many failings, and it is right that action should now be taken to place more responsibility on online firms to prevent harm from fraud and other economic crimes which their platforms and services have...
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Committee recommendation
35match
#13 - Eleventh Report - Economic Crime
We agree with the Joint Committee that the Draft Online Safety Bill should be amended so as to include fraud offences in the list of “relevant offences” in Clause 41(4) of the Bill. Fraudulent content should be designated as “priority illegal content”, thereby requiring online firms to be proactive rather than reactive in removing it from their platforms....
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terms: content
Committee recommendation
35match
#69 - Twelfth report - Influencer culture: Lights, camera, inaction?
We recommend that the remit of the CAP code be extended by removing the requirement for editorial ‘control’ to determine whether content constitutes an advertisement.
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terms: content
Committee recommendation
32match
#7 - 1st Report - Growing up in the online world: The Education Committee’s response to the Government’s...
We recommend that the Government introduces mandatory restrictions on high-risk and addictive design features, such as infinite scrolling, disappearing messages and algorithmic messages for under-18s, with appropriate age-related restrictions enabled by default, rather than relying on voluntary measures or user opt-ins. (Recommendation, Paragraph 15) Impact on schools, teachers and children’s education
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Committee recommendation
32match
#29 - Utilise existing legislation to investigate and hold accountable websites facilitating sexual exploitation trafficking.
Until new legislation is introduced prohibiting profiting from or enabling the prostitution of another person, law enforcement should utilise all available legislation to investigate and hold accountable websites that facilitate trafficking for sexual exploitation. This includes legislation prohibiting companies from benefiting from the proceeds of crime and preventative measures such as Slavery and Trafficking Risk Orders.
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Committee recommendation
32match
#28 - Implement all measures to tackle online sexual exploitation trafficking, including targeting money laundering.
The Home Office and law enforcement should be taking all measures possible to tackle trafficking for sexual exploitation online, so that it is no longer so easy or profitable for perpetrators to make money from sexual exploitation, including by ‘following the money’ and exploring links to money laundering and other organised crime gang- related activities and criminality.
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Committee recommendation
31match
#38 - Fourth Report - The Financial Conduct Authority’s Regulation of London Capital & Finance plc
Pending any legislative changes, the FCA should continue to work with online platforms such as Google to remove misleading and fraudulent adverts as quickly as possible, to protect customers from scams. (Paragraph 193) The Financial Conduct Authority’s Regulation of London Capital & Finance plc 53
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Committee recommendation
31match
#39 - Twelfth report - Influencer culture: Lights, camera, inaction?
We recommend that the Advertising Standards Authority introduce a requirement to the UK Code of Non-broadcast Advertising (CAP Code) for virtual influencers to be watermarked. Intermediaries
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Committee recommendation
31match
#17 - Online safety compliance will take time, as shown by video-sharing platform regulation experience.
Ofcom told us that it had undertaken a similar approach in its regulation of video- sharing platforms from November 2020. It had worked with pornography providers, some of whom had, as a result, introduced age estimation techniques. However, there had been a cluster of smaller companies that had not been so compliant, and Ofcom had therefore started a...
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Committee recommendation
31match
#17 - Second Report - Economics of music streaming
Music curators play an important role in the discovery and consumption of digital music and are influential in how creators are remunerated. It is, therefore, unsurprising that music creators are putting more resources into catching the eye of these curators. Where curators are paid or receive benefits in kind for playlisting, Economics of music streaming 107 we recommend...
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Committee recommendation
31match
#16 - Second Report - Economics of music streaming
The Government has repeatedly told us that it will not implement in UK law provisions akin to those established by the Directive on Copyright in the Digital Single Market. We accept that the Directive is not a silver bullet to the music industry’s problems, but it is a step in the right direction in terms of protections and...
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Committee recommendation
31match
#13 - Second Report - Economics of music streaming
Despite the general consensus that direct licensing between the record industry and streaming services is positive, there are ongoing concerns about the majors’ 106 Economics of music streaming position in negotiation, which allows them to benefit at the expense of independent labels and self-releasing artists, particularly regarding playlisting. This is further evidence that a referral to the CMA...
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Committee recommendation
31match
#1 - Second Report - Economics of music streaming
Streaming has undoubtedly helped save the music industry following two decades of digital piracy but it is clear that what has been saved does not work for everyone. The issues ostensibly created by streaming simply reflect more fundamental, structural problems within the recorded music industry. Streaming needs a complete reset. (Paragraph 41) Creator remuneration
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Committee recommendation
27match
#15 - 12th Report – Menstrual health of girls and young women
The suppression of vital online information about women’s health is a pressing issue, which requires immediate action. The assurances provided to us by the Minister were inadequate. We do not share the Government’s confidence that the Online Safety Act 2023’s transparency and accountability provisions will solve the problem, and, in any case, the media regulator Ofcom is unlikely...
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Committee recommendation
27match
#17 - Second Report - Tackling online abuse
The Government should monitor how effectively any new communications offences that are enacted—in particular, the Law Commission’s proposed harm-based offence—protect people from, and provide redress for victims of, online abuse, while also respecting freedom of expression online. We recommend that the Government publishes an initial review of the workings and impact of any new communications offences within the...
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Committee recommendation
27match
#58 - Deliver commitments from Fraud Strategy, including online fraud charter, by year-end.
We support the commitment in the Government’s Fraud Strategy to “make the tech sector commit to protect their customers through legislation and voluntary commitments” and “help banks slow down suspicious payments.” We urge the Home Office to deliver on those commitments as soon as possible. For example, a new online fraud charter was to be delivered by the...
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Committee recommendation
27match
#22 - Second Report - Economics of music streaming
We note that the CMA has developed a pro-competition framework for tech companies with ‘strategic market status’ that dominate digital markets. The CMA should consider exploring designating YouTube’s streaming services as having strategic market status to encourage competition with its products.
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Committee recommendation
27match
#10 - Second Report - Economics of music streaming
There is no doubt that the major music groups currently dominate the music industry, both in terms of overall market share in recording and (to a lesser extent) in publishing, but also through vertical integration, their acquisition of competing services and the system of cross-ownership. We recommend that the Government refer a case to the Competition and Markets...
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Committee recommendation
27match
#14 - Eleventh Report - Economic Crime
We reiterate our strong belief that the Government should include measures to address fraud via online advertising in the Online Safety Bill, in the interests of preventing further harm to customers being offered fraudulent financial products.
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Committee recommendation
27match
#97 - Twelfth report - Influencer culture: Lights, camera, inaction?
We recommend that the CMA report to our Committee on the progress, costs, and results of their 2020 Facebook Ireland Ltd. undertakings. In doing so they should also provide updates on their progress securing undertakings from other social media platforms. 277 Competition and Markets Authority, Undertakings to the Competition and Markets Authority (pursuant to Section 219 of the...
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Committee recommendation
27match
#86 - Twelfth report - Influencer culture: Lights, camera, inaction?
We recommend that the ASA be given statutory powers to enforce the CAP Code. These powers should be considered as part of the Government’s upcoming Online Advertising Programme. Appropriate funding arrangements should also be considered to ensure that the ASA is able to act effectively on these enforcement powers. Monitoring
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Committee recommendation
27match
#44 - Twelfth report - Influencer culture: Lights, camera, inaction?
We recommend that the Government commission an industry partner to develop a code of conduct for influencer marketing alongside relevant stakeholders. The Government should then promote this code as an example of best practice for deals between influencers and brands or talent agencies. The Influencer Marketing Code of Conduct, created by the ISBA, could provide a useful starting...
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Committee recommendation
27match
#28 - Fourth Report - Post-pandemic economic growth: state aid and post-Brexit competition policy
There are clear examples of market dominance in digital markets globally which have been well documented. We heard from witnesses, and during our visit to the US, strong evidence of abuses of market dominance which warrant intervention. We encourage the CMA to investigate these instances closely and collaborate internationally to promote further competition between digital firms. We also...
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Committee recommendation
27match
#9 - Seventh Report - Sustainability of local journalism
We are glad that the Government appears to be expediting the introduction of the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumer Bill, which will be vital to redressing the unbalanced relationship between the large digital platforms and local news publishers (among many others). It is important that any code of conduct and collective bargaining mechanisms provided for by the bill...
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Inquiry recommendation
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SP12 - Detection of concerning online behaviour
Phase 2 should consider systems to detect and report concerning online behaviour and suspicious combinations of purchases. This should include consideration of: 1. Concerning patterns of online browsing and purchasing (e.g. change of names and addresses, use of Virtual Private Networks). 2. Concerning purchases of dangerous but legal items (e.g. sledgehammers, bow and arrows and smoke grenades). 3....
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Committee recommendation
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#15 - Second Report - Economics of music streaming
Artists and their representatives face a systemic lack of transparency from both music companies and the streaming services that license their works. This exacerbates the inequities of creator remuneration by creating information asymmetries and preventing them from undertaking their right to audit. Creators and their representatives have a right to know about the terms on which their works...
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