Should the government regulate social media sites, as a means to prevent fake news and misinformation?
In January 2018 Germany passed the NetzDG law which required platforms like Facebook, Twitter and YouTube to take down perceived illegal content within 24 hours or seven days, depending on the charge, or risk a fine of €50 million ($60 million) fines. In July 2018 representatives from Facebook, Google and Twitter denied to the U.S. House of Representatives Judiciary committee that they censor content for political reasons. During the hearing Republican members of Congress criticized the social media companies for politically motivated practices in removing some content, a charge the…
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Educate about fake news instead
@8TWLCN33yrs3Y
@9L4VP4X3 days3D
Yes, but eith trepidation. I think the government should regulate social media companies so that people cannot not be able to post content until they tick a box which labels it as personal, AI-generated, paid-promotion, or organizational position.
@9L3SL295 days5D
No, but there should be more widespread encouraging of doing your own research and education about fake news
@9KXC3Y62wks2W
There does need to be more regulation, but a government could be just as biased as a privately owned social media site. Perhaps more education surrounding propaganda and fake news is needed instead.
@9KQMV773wks3W
I believe that fake news and misinformation should be regulated however, I do not believe that the government is the appropriate body to do so. An equivalent to OFCOM could be an option.
@9KLY2FV3wks3W
Regulation would be appreciated, but unfortunately a Government in power could use those tools for politics bias
@9JZM429 1mo1MO
No, asking the government to regulate things that are true or untrue is like asking asking putin to regulate the use of explosives.
@9JZS2VZLiberal Democrat1mo1MO
No but intervention should is needed but should be kept to a minimum. Encouragement on how to combat radicalisation is needed to
@9JYMMMQ1mo1MO
No, but they should have systems and powers to proactively and efficiently bring legal cases against companies that are profiting off the spread of misinformation and encouraging it. The resulting penalties should be sufficient to disincentiv
There should be a code of conduct and a body that reviews and takes action if appropriate - eg Cambridge Analytica. We should also follow EU GDPR.
@9JXMWJJLiberal Democrat1mo1MO
No - but the government should ensure laws are in place to ensure social media companies regulate their platforms and are legally held to account
@9JVYRRX 1mo1MO
The government has more pressing issues than what is being said on social media. Social media platforms should be doing more to prevent misinformation.
@9JTYG772mos2MO
The government cannot be trusted to decide for itself what is real and fake news, but social media sites should be regulated in some way as there is a worrying amount of false information spread.
@9JTN4842mos2MO
No, they should instead teach people how to spot genuine/fake news so they can decide for themselves whether to believe something.
@9JH6PK62mos2MO
No, but there should be a law that social media sites are required to have strict compliance departments
@9J79Z962mos2MO
No but the government should pass more antisocial legislation which punishes social media companies for misinformation
@9J3W4YW2mos2MO
No I do not believe that the government would not spread their own agenda as the expense of factual information.
@9J2QK743mos3MO
No, but an independent and accountable body should flag misleading news and say what actually occurred. Media and government must remain separate.
@9J2Q8PB3mos3MO
No, but enact legislation requiring social media companies to remove fake news and have heavy punishments if this isn't followed.
@Ozzy_Blue3mos3MO
Yes and No, the government should not determine what is fake or real news - but social media companies are private and should be regulated by the government.
@9HXYNNT3mos3MO
An independant body to regulate what social media companies allow to be published on their platforms would be better than government regulating this.
@9HWWBHD3mos3MO
Shouldn't be regulated by individual governments, but rather by the United Nations and a combined consensus on what is "fake news" and what is "misinformation".
@9HQSR2G3mos3MO
No, the government shouldn't regulate privates businesses. However, it should be the responsibility of the owners to do so.
@9GX4TKW5mos5MO
No, but there should instead be an independent regulatory commission established to do so, that is separate from government
No, this is unfeasible however it should regulate any actions taken by social media companies including but not limited to: choices of advertiser, algorithm changes, ToS changes and more to ensure freedom of speech is protected for individual users and that social media does not systemically promote right wing extremism.
@9GQQRRW5mos5MO
No, Governments should provide guidances together with NGOs and enforce punishment for failures of social media giants, but an independent body should be responsible for enforcement.
@9GF4YJC5mos5MO
A governing body should be put in place globally to prevent fake news and misinformation, but I do not agree the government should have control as it will be used to their advantage.
@9G7TQBX5mos5MO
no but adds and commercials for unbiased opinions and sites shoud be commonplace and required on social media
@8YPK9B4 5mos5MO
No, but sites proven to be lax in self regulation of fake news, or where fake news is actively shared with no consequences to users should be prosecuted and fined.
@9G5MCLJ6mos6MO
While social media should be regulated, as there is too much fake news and misinformation, it should be mainly regulated and processed by an independent board of auditors, as both companies and the government are politically biased and need to be regulated.
@9G4QK6T6mos6MO
Yes, as long as the government releases reports/lists of all the removed content with sources and justifications.
@9D7DTF58mos8MO
No, but there should be an independent regulatory body like the Advertising Standards Agency to do so.
@9D587MY8mos8MO
Have a government body that works along side media companies to tackle online issues
@9D2Q5C88mos8MO
Yes but by a non governmental regulatory body.
@9D26TXW8mos8MO
An NGO regulator should have more powers to enforce fair policies or political and religious propaganda on social media and prevent algorithms that perpetuate hate speech and targeted doctrine.
@9CXF6S88mos8MO
No, but they should be allowed to give warning if info goes against consensus
@9CQGQBV9mos9MO
I think social media companies should be obliged to show both sides of a debate.
@9CP2FCQ9mos9MO
YES, however I also think users and businesses/sites, especially in the case of social media as this question is getting at, should be held to higher standards and accountability, especially in terms of or for protection. I also think sites/the internet as a whole, especially popular social media, should be more regulated and appropriately/affectively safe guarded, and actions taken when and where necessary, especially in regards to fake or debunked or illegal sources, information and hate speech or other trolling or toxic, inappropriate and or fake/false rhetoric and news/behaviour.
@9CN2M5ZLiberal Democrat9mos9MO
Ban social media for anything other than being a virtual hangout space for friends
@9CJHNNWLiberal Democrat9mos9MO
Yes, they should regulate them, but not for that purpose - instead to prevent abuse of citizen data
@9CG932R9mos9MO
No, but independent bodies should be established to perform this task and intentionally or recklessly spreading provable misinformation should be an offence.
@9BSNF9411mos11MO
The social media platforms should regulate the fake news, not the government
@9BNPSP611mos11MO
Yes, but only after content is reviewed by an investigation team
@9BNG34511mos11MO
The government should not regulate social media, however if they see a problem, they should report it to the social media sites.
@9BNCTYKLiberal Democrat11mos11MO
Yes, however do not believe the Government could betrusted with this
@9BH79RH11mos11MO
provide a warning on news that is suspected to be false
@9BGL87811mos11MO
social media should be regulated by a socialist government
@9BB2XPK12mos12MO
Yes, provided all costs being borne by the companies themselves after government mandated guidance
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