Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether she has received representations from international counterparts on the Media Green Paper’s proposal to require social media platforms to make news content from public service media and “trustworthy” news providers more prominent.

As set out in the Media Green Paper ‘Watch this Space’, the Government is exploring options to require social media platforms, as well as potentially video sharing platforms, to ensure trusted news content is prominent and discoverable within user interfaces. This will ensure people can access high-quality, trustworthy journalism which is essential to our democracy and to countering the prevalence of mis and disinformation.

The Government has not yet determined what criteria may be used to define a trustworthy news provider. The Department will continue engaging stakeholders, assessing evidence and analysing responses as part of the Green Paper consultation to inform the design of a news prominence regime. A starting point for any criteria may be the recognised news publisher definition in the Online Safety Act 2023, although no decisions have been made. Any approach will protect freedom of expression, media freedom and editorial independence.

With regard to representations from, and engagement with, international counterparts, the Department has engaged with international partners in order to understand their perspectives and learn from international best practice.