Recommendations & Conclusions
10 items
2
Conclusion
2nd Report – Social media, misinformati…
Accepted
We launched this inquiry in the wake of the riots that followed the horrific attack in Southport in 2024. We received overwhelming evidence that online activity, including social media recommendation algorithms amplifying harmful and misleading content, played a key part in driving the unrest and violence. Social media companies’ responses …
Read more
We launched this inquiry in the wake of the riots that followed the horrific attack in Southport in 2024. We received overwhelming evidence that online activity, including social media recommendation algorithms amplifying harmful and misleading content, played a key part in driving the unrest and violence. Social media companies’ responses were inconsistent and 52 inadequate, often enabling, if not encouraging, this viral spread, with evidence that they may have profited due to the heightened engagement. The evidence supports the conclusion that social media business models incentivise the spread of content that is damaging and dangerous, and did so in a manner that endangered public safety in the hours and days following the Southport murders. (Conclusion, Paragraph 14)
Show less
Government response AI summary
The government agrees with the committee's findings, acknowledging that it is appropriate for providers to receive clear guidance on how to respond to crises that could lead to the rapid spread of illegal content online.
Read full response →
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
5
Conclusion
2nd Report – Social media, misinformati…
Accepted
Social media and other online platforms have huge power and reach into our lives, with positive and negative impacts. They can democratise knowledge and access to the public sphere, and help to build social connections and global communities. Generative AI provides further opportunities in terms of productivity, creativity and content …
Read more
Social media and other online platforms have huge power and reach into our lives, with positive and negative impacts. They can democratise knowledge and access to the public sphere, and help to build social connections and global communities. Generative AI provides further opportunities in terms of productivity, creativity and content moderation. For these reasons, it is imperative that we regulate and legislate these technologies based on the principles set out in this report, harnessing the digital world in a way that protects and empowers citizens. (Conclusion, Paragraph 25)
Show less
Government response AI summary
The government acknowledges the challenges and the need for regulation, stating it is already addressing the issues through the regulatory provisions of the Online Safety Act 2023 and ongoing efforts to enhance media literacy.
Read full response →
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
7
Conclusion
2nd Report – Social media, misinformati…
Accepted
The technology used by social media companies should be transparent, explainable and accessible to public authorities, as stated in our Principle
Government response AI summary
The government states that the Online Safety Act (OSA) will deliver greater transparency and accountability through Ofcom's duties, mandatory annual transparency reports, and user empowerment features, thereby addressing the committee's principle.
Read full response →
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
11
Recommendation
2nd Report – Social media, misinformati…
Accepted
Following our Principles 2 and 3, the government should compel social media platforms to embed tools within their systems that identify and algorithmically deprioritise fact-checked misleading content, or content that cites unreliable sources, where it has the potential to cause significant harm. It is vital that these measures do not …
Read more
Following our Principles 2 and 3, the government should compel social media platforms to embed tools within their systems that identify and algorithmically deprioritise fact-checked misleading content, or content that cites unreliable sources, where it has the potential to cause significant harm. It is vital that these measures do not censor legal free expression, but apply justified and proportionate restrictions to the spread of information to protect national security, public safety or health, or prevent disorder or crime. (Recommendation, Paragraph 31)
Show less
Government response AI summary
The government acknowledges the issue and urges providers to counter misinformation, but does not commit to compelling platforms to embed new tools. It notes that the Online Safety Act (OSA) focuses on illegal or child-harming content and that most major platforms already employ fact-checking and …
Read full response →
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
12
Conclusion
2nd Report – Social media, misinformati…
Accepted
As per Principle 4, users should have more control over the content that is pushed to them online. Government should mandate all online services with a content recommendation algorithm to give the user a ‘right to reset’, which would delete all data stored by their recommendation algorithm, in the manner …
Read more
As per Principle 4, users should have more control over the content that is pushed to them online. Government should mandate all online services with a content recommendation algorithm to give the user a ‘right to reset’, which would delete all data stored by their recommendation algorithm, in the manner that users can clear their cookie history. This option should be displayed prominently on the platform’s main feed or homepage. (Recommendation, Paragraph 32)
Show less
Government response AI summary
The government states that while there is no specific 'right to reset' legislation, existing powers and protections under the Online Safety Act (OSA) and UK GDPR, such as the right to erasure and user control features, collectively achieve the committee's objective.
Read full response →
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
16
Conclusion
2nd Report – Social media, misinformati…
Accepted
The Online Safety Act will lead to some improvements, but is designed only to protect users from harm that is illegal or affects children. The decision not to include measures related to the algorithmic amplification of “legal but harmful” content, such as misinformation, means that full enforcement of the Act …
Read more
The Online Safety Act will lead to some improvements, but is designed only to protect users from harm that is illegal or affects children. The decision not to include measures related to the algorithmic amplification of “legal but harmful” content, such as misinformation, means that full enforcement of the Act would have made little difference to the online environment that helped to incite the violence of last summer. (Conclusion, Paragraph 45)
Show less
Government response AI summary
The government acknowledges the committee's concern but defends the Online Safety Act's proportionate approach, which focuses on illegal content and content harmful to children. It highlights that the OSA holds Category 1 services accountable for their terms of service, mentions its media literacy strategy, and …
Read full response →
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
17
Conclusion
2nd Report – Social media, misinformati…
Accepted
It is vital that platforms are held responsible for the algorithmic spread of misleading or deceptive content that can radicalise and harm users. The few measures in the Act that address misinformation fall short. The False Communications offence is vaguely worded and will be difficult to implement; the advisory committee …
Read more
It is vital that platforms are held responsible for the algorithmic spread of misleading or deceptive content that can radicalise and harm users. The few measures in the Act that address misinformation fall short. The False Communications offence is vaguely worded and will be difficult to implement; the advisory committee on mis/disinformation has been renamed, suggesting a change of emphasis; and the media literacy strategy does not set ambitious goals. (Conclusion, Paragraph 46)
Show less
Government response AI summary
The government acknowledges the importance of countering misinformation, but defends the Online Safety Act's proportionate approach which targets illegal content and content harmful to children. It emphasizes that Category 1 services are accountable for their terms of service, references its media literacy strategy, and notes …
Read full response →
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
19
Recommendation
2nd Report – Social media, misinformati…
Accepted
In line with Principle 5, transparency, the government should introduce duties for platforms to undertake risk assessments and reporting requirements on legal but harmful content, such as potentially harmful misinformation, with a focus on the role of recommendation algorithms in its spread. (Recommendation, Paragraph 48)
Read more
In line with Principle 5, transparency, the government should introduce duties for platforms to undertake risk assessments and reporting requirements on legal but harmful content, such as potentially harmful misinformation, with a focus on the role of recommendation algorithms in its spread. (Recommendation, Paragraph 48)
Show less
Government response AI summary
The government states the Online Safety Act (OSA) already introduces duties for platforms, compelling Ofcom to require transparency reports on safety-related issues, including information on the dissemination of content and how algorithms function. The OSA also empowers adult users regarding certain legal but harmful content.
Read full response →
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
27
Recommendation
2nd Report – Social media, misinformati…
Accepted
To protect citizens from the AI-exacerbated spread of misinformation and harm, the government should pass legislation that covers generative AI platforms, bringing them in line with other online services that pose a high risk of producing or spreading illegal or harmful content. Following the Principles identified by this report, this …
Read more
To protect citizens from the AI-exacerbated spread of misinformation and harm, the government should pass legislation that covers generative AI platforms, bringing them in line with other online services that pose a high risk of producing or spreading illegal or harmful content. Following the Principles identified by this report, this legislation should require generative AI platforms to: provide risk assessments to Ofcom on the risks associated with different prompts and outputs, including how far they can create or spread illegal, harmful or misleading content; explain to Ofcom how the model curates content, responds to sensitive topics and what guardrails are in place to prevent content that is illegal or harmful to children; implement user safeguards such as feedback, complaints and output flagging; and prevent children from accessing inappropriate or harmful outputs. (Recommendation, Paragraph 76)
Show less
Government response AI summary
The government believes the Online Safety Act takes a proportionate approach by focusing on illegal or harmful content to children, requiring services to undertake risk assessments, and holding Category 1 services to account over the enforcement of their terms of service.
Read full response →
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
29
Recommendation
2nd Report – Social media, misinformati…
Accepted
To effectively tackle amplified misinformation as per Principle 1, the government should work with relevant experts and platforms to develop technology that automatically detects AI-generated media, meeting mis/ disinformation at its source. It should mandate all generative AI platforms, and platforms that employ generative AI technologies, to automatically label AI-generated …
Read more
To effectively tackle amplified misinformation as per Principle 1, the government should work with relevant experts and platforms to develop technology that automatically detects AI-generated media, meeting mis/ disinformation at its source. It should mandate all generative AI platforms, and platforms that employ generative AI technologies, to automatically label AI-generated media with metadata and visible watermarks that cannot be removed. (Recommendation, Paragraph 78) Digital advertising market
Show less
Government response AI summary
The government responds by highlighting its past initiative, the Deepfake Detection Challenge, which brought together experts to develop solutions for detecting synthetic media. However, it does not commit to working with platforms to develop new detection technology or mandating automatic labelling of AI-generated media with …
Read full response →
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology