“ISBA welcomes the Government’s response to the online harms consultation. As a society, we are faced with serious challenges – and huge opportunities – online. Meeting them is a global challenge and one in which the advertising and marketing industry must play its full part.
“We have long advocated the need for proportionate regulation, and Ministers’ approach in this regard is encouraging. We are pleased to see Ofcom confirmed as the body which will oversee an effective, fairly-funded, and collaborative regulatory environment. We need common principles and codes of conduct, supporting systemic transparency and accountability. We also need to protect freedom of expression, not least so that advertising and marketing continues to be the engine of our successful, exporting creative industries.
“Hand-in-hand with that freedom of expression must come the responsibility to take action against unacceptable, illegal and harmful content. Advertisers, agencies, media companies, platforms and industry organisations have already come together in the Global Alliance for Responsible Media to take forward this work and improve digital safety. We are delivering concrete actions and processes to meet this goal, and look forward to working with government and Ofcom to take this further.
“There is no place in a dynamic, competitive digital economy for content or activity that puts at risk children and the most vulnerable. Advertisers, platforms and trade bodies look forward to seeing the legislation and to working in partnership with government to put in place workable rules which root out and prevent online harms.”