UK exploring law to make ‘trustworthy’ news more prominent on social media
Key Points
- Government exploring law to make "trustworthy" news prominent on social media
- Regime could also extend to video sharing platforms
- Criteria for a "trustworthy" news provider not yet determined
- Possible starting point: recognised news publisher definition in Online Safety Act 2023
- Consultation asks if measures should be "always on" or crisis-only
- Cites Southport riots and role of algorithmic recommendations
Ministers are exploring legislation that would require social media platforms to make “trustworthy” news more prominent and easier to find, under proposals set out in the government’s media green paper.
The paper states that the government will “explore legislative options to establish a prominence regime specifically for trustworthy news content on social media,” which could also extend to video-sharing platforms.
Such a regime would oblige platforms to ensure that news content is prominent and discoverable within their user interfaces.
The government argues the measure is needed to counter misinformation, particularly during periods of social unrest.
It cites the disorder that followed the Southport stabbings in the summer of 2024, when regulator Ofcom noted the role of “algorithmic recommendations” in spreading misleading and divisive content.
The paper states that DCMS-commissioned research found that local media had helped to de-escalate tensions during the riots.
The question of trustworthiness
Central to the proposal is the question of how a “trustworthy” news provider would be defined.
The paper concedes that the government has “not yet determined what criteria we will use” and intends to consult on the matter.
It suggests a starting point could be the recognised news publisher definition in the Online Safety Act 2023, which covers organisations subject to editorial control, a standards code and a complaints process.
The consultation also asks whether any prominence measures should be permanently “always on” or activated only during periods of crisis, and whether individual users should be able to switch them off.
The paper further sets out ‘principles’ for the new law, including that it should be “audience led,” “future-proofed” and “outcomes based,” and that any criteria should be decided “in an open and transparent manner with regard to protecting media freedom.”
A separate prominence regime for public service media content is being considered in parallel.
