UK plans to give established media more visibility on YouTube and TikTok

Plans to hand established broadcasters and media companies greater prominence on digital platforms such as YouTube and TikTok have been unveiled, as ministers warned online misinformation risked becoming “existential for our democracy”. In proposals that set up a new clash with global tech companies, content from the likes of the BBC, ITV and Channel 4 would have to be awarded more promotion by their algorithms – with special rules considered for times of social unrest or crisis. It comes after a concerted campaign by the UK’s public service broadcasters (PSBs), who have also been arguing their content needs to be safeguarded to protect the “shared social fabric of the UK” . They have long harboured concerns that their content is being drowned out by less reliable content, or demoted by the sheer weight of English-language material generated in the US. Ian Murray, the media minister, said he hoped the big tech companies would work with the government to put new prominence rules into place. However, he said legislation could be used if required. “The ball is in their court,” he said. Murray said the shift towards online platforms was “existential for media, but also existential for our democracy”, pointing to the amount of misinformation detected during last week’s Makerfield byelection. …