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https://www.breitbart.com/europe/2019/04/08/uk-govt-plans-sweeping-internet-controls-combat-online-harms/

UK Govt Plans Sweeping Internet Controls to Combat ‘Online Harms’ Including ‘Fake News’, ‘Trolling’

The British government has published an Online Harms White Paper outlining a series of sweeping new controls on the Internet, which will see social media firms required to police users’ actions or face stiff penalties.

While the paper’s proponents have emphasised the need for action against activity related to criminal behaviour such as child sexual exploitation and terrorism, the proposals roll in a number of other, far more dubious transgressions including “trolling” and alleged “disinformation” under the “online harms” umbrella as well.

Under the alarming heading ‘Threats to our way of life’, the paper states that even simply “Inaccurate information, regardless of intent, can be harmful” — although trying to use the force of law to stamp out perceived inaccuracy could see state officials and tech giants elevated to the status of the official arbiters of truth, at least in practice.

The further states that “According to the Reuters Institute, 61 percent of people want the government to do more to separate what is real and fake on the internet” — suggesting that this may indeed be their ambition.

It also stresses that “The government is particularly worried about disinformation… created or disseminated with the deliberate intent to mislead”, as this “could be to cause harm, or for personal, political or financial gain” — very subjective concerns, open to very broad interpretation.