Meta's Israel flagger under fire, the 'reluctant regulator' and Swisher on stage
Hello and welcome to Everything in Moderation's Week in Review, your need-to-know news and analysis about platform policy, content moderation and internet regulation. It's written by me, Ben Whitelaw and supported by members like you.
This week, spare a thought for the policy folks. As yet another country launch yet another set of safety codes, public policy and compliance teams will do what has become common over the last few years: figure out what applies to them, work with other teams to align practices and get the bosses on board. Delays could mean fines or government heat. It's a case of regulate, rinse, repeat.
There's no regular Ctrl-Alt-Speech this week but a) last week's episode is one of my favourites and worth a listen b) my co-host Mike has something special planned so keep an eye out on the feed (Apple, Spotify).
Thanks for reading EiM. Here's your week in review — BW
Today’s edition is in partnership with the Tech Coalition, spotlighting its Pathways Program for capacity building
The Tech Coalition’s Pathways Program offers expert advice, resources, and consultation opportunities to non-member industry employees working to combat online child sexual exploitation and abuse. Build your team’s capacity to make a real impact.
Policies
New and emerging internet policy and online speech regulation
Ireland placed new obligations on ten video-sharing platforms this week as it unveiled its long-anticipated Online Safety Code. The code brings to life the Online Safety and Media Regulation Act 2022 and works alongside two EU pieces of legislation — the Digital Services Act and EU Terrorist Content Regulation — to bring “an end to the era of social media self-regulation”, according to its online safety commissioner.
The Emerald Isle may have been billed as a "reluctant regulator" but platforms don’t have long to comply to the Code's general obligations — 19th November is the initial deadline.
In the UK, Ofcom has reiterated that it be will “shortly be establishing” a new advisory committee on Misinformation and Disinformation — obligated under the Online Safety Act — to provide advice on how platforms should respond to events such as the Southport riots (EiM #258).
Why it matters: The Committee has drawn ire from civil society organisations for not being set up earlier; Full Fact, for example, called for it to be spun up before the UK election. Now the questions are: who will be part of it, when will its recommendations inform Ofcom’s codes and to what extent will it be politicised. I’ll keep an eye out for more information.