Punishment for online harms rule breaches must be proportionate, minister says
The enforcement powers of the new internet watchdog must be “proportionate” to the level of harm caused, digital minister Matt Warman has said.
DCMS
Government to appoint Ofcom as online safety regulator
The Government is to appoint broadcasting regulator Ofcom as a new internet watchdog, with the ability to fine social media companies that do not protect users from harmful content.
Government backs plans to expand publicly funded journalism scheme
Ministers have given their backing to plans to recruit more publicly funded journalists to better cover what happens at local councils, courts and NHS Trusts.
Botanical drawings at risk of leaving the UK
Botanical drawings are at risk of leaving the UK unless a buyer can be found to pay £2.5 million.
FA urged to ‘reconsider’ deal with betting website
The Football Association has been advised to “reconsider” its relationship with bet365 by Nicky Morgan, the secretary of state for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.
Gainsborough painting needs £8m buyer to keep it in the UK
A painting by Thomas Gainsborough is at risk of leaving the UK unless a buyer is found for the £8 million work.
PayPal: Political parties should check where donations come from
PayPal has defended its platform amid concerns of anonymous foreign donors using the service to donate to political parties in the UK.
Facebook denies claims of discrepancies in evidence to MPs
Facebook has denied its executives gave contradictory evidence to a parliamentary committee that was investigating the Cambridge Analytica data scandal.
Eight out of 10 UK areas lack full 4G coverage, says Which?
Millions of people are at risk of mobile signal blackouts because their area is not adequately served by full 4G coverage, Which? has reported.
MPs ask Facebook to explain ‘discrepancies’ in Cambridge Analytica evidence
Facebook has been asked to clarify evidence given to a parliamentary select committee around the Cambridge Analytica scandal, after legal documents in the US contradicted the firm’s account of events.
Channel 4 hails PSBs as guaranteed makers of British TV content
Channel 4’s boss has hailed the importance of having a strong ecology for public service broadcasters (PSBs) in the face of competition from streaming giants.
Not enough evidence to show loot boxes are gambling, says Digital Minister
There is not enough evidence available to suggest that loot boxes in video games constitute gambling, the Digital Minister has said.
Call for ‘urgent legislation’ against online electoral interference
MPs have accused the Government of ignoring urgent calls to protect future elections, in the face of growing fears around online interference from foreign players and the way campaigns are funded in the digital age.
Reality TV inquiry must include those behind the camera, says charity chief
The chief executive of a leading media charity has urged the Government to broaden its inquiry into reality TV to include those working behind the camera.
Jeremy Kyle bosses criticised as ‘irresponsible’ over lie-detector tests
Jeremy Kyle “strongly believed” in lie-detector tests, MPs have heard, as TV bosses were criticised for not knowing enough about them.
Earliest surviving work by Francis Bacon among four blocked from export
Ministers have stepped in to keep four rare early works by Francis Bacon – worth a combined total of £3 million – in the UK.
Government age verification tools announcement hit by email gaffe
The Government’s announcement of age verification measures for pornography sites has been overshadowed by an error which saw the contact details of hundreds of recipients exposed on the announcement email.
UK ministers block £3m export of furniture made by papal craftsman
Ministers have blocked the export of a rare £3 million cabinet created by a craftsman to the papacy in order to keep the treasured object in the UK.
Snapchat admits its age verification tools do not work
Snapchat has admitted its age verification process cannot always stop children under the age of 13 from signing up to the app.
BBC has faced nearly two years of equal pay controversy
Carrie Gracie caused an enormous headache for the BBC as the most high-profile casualty of the controversy over equal pay.
Changes to free TV licences for over-75s ‘absolute disgrace’
Changes to free TV licences for over-75s have been blasted as “an absolute disgrace” as pensioners said they fear it could be the start of cuts to their benefits.
Tech giants should have duty to ensure ‘quality news’, says review
Tech giants like Google and Facebook should have a “news quality obligation” – overseen by a regulator – to improve trust in the content they host, a Government-commissioned review has found.
Tech giants should have duty to ensure ‘quality news’, says review
Tech giants like Google and Facebook should have a “news quality obligation” – overseen by a regulator – to improve trust in the content they host, a Government-commissioned review has found.
Women at BBC still paid ‘far less’ than men – report
Women at the BBC continue to be paid “far less” than men for the same work, a report into equal pay at the broadcaster has said.
DCMS chairman Damian Collins warns BBC it risks backlash over equal pay
MP Damian Collins has said the BBC must abide by the law or risk a backlash from employees and Parliament over pay equality.
Female staff brand BBC equal pay policy ‘disrespectful’ to women
Women working at the BBC have branded the corporation’s treatment of female staff “disheartening and disrespectful” following a report into equal pay at the broadcaster.
Government announces £20m cultural investment supporting ‘better places to live’
The Government will invest £20 million to regenerate towns across the UK through cultural programmes and making “better places to live”.
Parliamentary inquiry launched into addictive technologies
An inquiry into the impact of immersive technologies such as virtual and augmented reality has been launched by a House of Commons select committee.
Parliament seizes cache of Facebook documents in ‘unprecedented move’
A cache of internal Facebook documents has been dramatically seized using Parliament’s legal powers as MPs probe the Cambridge Analytica data scandal.
Women left in the dark over pay, warns Carrie Gracie’s lawyer
The lawyer who represented former BBC China editor Carrie Gracie in her salary dispute with the broadcaster has said women are “left in the dark” about their pay and face an ongoing battle against discrimination in a chaotic system.