Press Complaints Commission regulating the internet
‘What chance is there of successfully applying a set of statutory rules to information transmitted online, where anyone can be a publisher and there is no spectrum scarcity? None.’
– Sir Christopher Meyer, Chairman PCC
Should you have ever had cause to complain to the Press Complaints Commission (PCC), the chances are that rather than being met by the claimed ‘fast, free, fair’ response, you’ve been met by silence. So the news that the PCC is gearing up to regulate websites is rather laughable.
PCC Chairman Sir Christopher Meyer’s idea for some sort of charter mark to label ethical websites isn’t bad, but I can’t see it taking off. Moreover, his general argument for taking the voluntary regulation route doesn’t hold much water.
Any regulatory regime will be judged by its success in putting a stop to dodgy practices. The idea that Gawker, say, might agree that stalking is wrong and close is a nonsense, as is the idea that its visitors might be put off by the absence of a PCC badge of approval. That bloggers might sign-up is rather fanciful.
The factors Meyer points to – a world where anyone can be a publisher and spectrum is unlimited – actually show that only statutory regulation and the threat of being hauled before the beak have any chance of being effective.
Contact Stephen Newton
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