LONDON (AP) - The Latest on the global push to increase regulation of social media (all times local):
3:30 p.m.
A European Union lawmakers’ committee has approved a proposal to fine internet companies up to 4% of their revenue if they don’t remove terrorist content within one hour of being notified by authorities.
An EU parliamentary committee approved the draft legislation on Monday despite heavy opposition from digital rights groups, tech trade bodies and some lawmakers.
They said the one-hour deadline is too short and, combined with the threat of big fines, would encourage companies to err on the side of caution by “over-removing” lawful content.
Critics also say it places a bigger burden on smaller internet companies than on tech giants like Facebook and Google, which can use their own automated filters. They worry U.S. tech giants would end up becoming the web’s de facto censors.
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8:50 a.m.
The U.K. has proposed directly regulating social media companies for the first time, with senior executives potentially facing fines if they fail to block damaging content such as terrorist propaganda or images of child abuse.
The regulations proposed Monday would create a statutory “duty of care” for social media companies such as Facebook and Twitter to protect young people who use their sites. The rules would be overseen by an independent regulator funded by a levy on internet companies.
Media Secretary Jeremy Wright says: “Voluntary actions from industry to tackle online harms have not been applied consistently or gone far enough.”
The proposed regulations were released for public comment on Monday.
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