The Communications Committee has concluded its inquiry on internet regulation.
Background: The Communications Committee of the House of Lords launched an inquiry in March 2018, exploring how internet regulation should be improved. The inquiry ran almost in parallel to the inquiry on Fake News of the DCMS Committee in the House of Commons, though it had a broader scope than the latter.
How the inquiry ended: One year later, the Committee has concluded the inquiry, which finds that the digital world “does not merely require more regulation but a different approach to regulation”. The final report suggests reducing fragmentation, by creating a Digital Authority to coordinate the many overseeing the digital world and proposes 10 principles for regulation, including accountability, transparency, respect for privacy and freedom of expression. Finally, the report recommends actions along three lines: imposing a duty of care on online platforms, and empowering Ofcom to enforce it; giving users greater control over use of personal data, and requiring data controllers/processors to publish regular transparency reports; and intervening on market concentration, by creating a public interest test for data-driven mergers.
What could happen next? The Government has two months to respond to the Committee’s report. It is currently unlikely that it will prioritise internet regulation; however, the Lords’ inquiry matches the findings of the DCMS Committee, and could add pressure to take steps toward legislating.
