Facebook users will be
given a new legal right to wipe clean all photos, messages and information that
they put online before turning 18 under a new manifesto pledge announced by
Theresa May.
The Prime Minister will
announce plans for new legislation to amid concerns that people's career
prospects are being damaged by comments they made as teenagers.
Social media companies
will also face significant fines if they fail to stop people from
"unintentionally" coming across pornography, hate speeches and other
harmful material.
They will also be
legally obliged to take down "inappropriate, bullying, harmful or illegal
content" that is flagged to them by users or fines.
The Tories will also
unveil new powers to hit the entire social media industry with a multi-million
pound fines if it fails to fulfill its responsibilities to protect users.
It comes after
criticism of Facebook, Youtube and other social media websites for hosting
videos of hate clerics and even child abuse online.
The policy represents a
significant shift for the Conservatives, who have previously worked with
companies in the hope that they will voluntarily make the changes.
Mrs May said: “The
internet has brought a wealth of opportunity but also significant new risks
which have evolved faster than society’s response to them.
“We want social media
companies to do more to help redress the balance and will take action to make
sure they do. “These measures will help make Britain the best place in the
world to start and run a digital business, and the safest place in the world
for people to be online.”
The report comes after
it emerged that employers are increasingly using social media websites to
screen job applicants. According to one survey of human resources professionals
a third of employers have rejected job applicants after checking their social
media profiles.Tony Blair, the former
Labour Prime Minister, has admitted that he would have had no chance of being
Prime Minister if social media had existed when he was younger.Under a new data
protection act social media users will be entitled to delete their entire
profiles from before the age of 18. New laws will also require social media
companies to respond when users flag potentially inappropriate content.
They will have a new
duty to either "take down" offensive material or explain why they are
keeping it online. Last month Google admitted to a blind spot around
extremist content as it revealed it is teaching its computer systems to
understand which videos are offensive.The Prime Minister will
announce plans for new legislation to amid concerns that people's career
prospects are being damaged by comments they made as teenagers.Social media companies
will also face significant fines if they fail to stop people from
"unintentionally" coming across pornography, hate speeches and other
harmful material.
They will also be
legally obliged to take down "inappropriate, bullying, harmful or illegal
content" that is flagged to them by users or fines.The Tories will also
unveil new powers to hit the entire social media industry with a multi-million
pound fines if it fails to fulfill its responsibilities to protect users.It comes after criticism
of Facebook, Youtube and other social media websites for hosting videos of hate
clerics and even child abuse online.
The policy represents a
significant shift for the Conservatives, who have previously worked with
companies in the hope that they will voluntarily make the changes.
Mrs May said: “The
internet has brought a wealth of opportunity but also significant new risks
which have evolved faster than society’s response to them.
“We want social media
companies to do more to help redress the balance and will take action to make
sure they do. “These measures will help make Britain the best place in the
world to start and run a digital business, and the safest place in the world
for people to be online.”
The report comes after
it emerged that employers are increasingly using social media websites to
screen job applicants. According to one survey of human resources professionals
a third of employers have rejected job applicants after checking their social
media profiles.Tony Blair, the former
Labour Prime Minister, has admitted that he would have had no chance of being
Prime Minister if social media had existed when he was younger. Under a new
data protection act social media users will be entitled to delete their entire
profiles from before the age of 18.
New laws will also
require social media companies to respond when users flag potentially
inappropriate content. They will have a new duty to either "take
down" offensive material or explain why they are keeping it online. (UK Telegraph)