Facebook Executives Could Be Liable for Harmful Content Under U.K. Plans
- U.K. said to set out legislation hold bosses personally liable
- Aim to reduce internet content of terrorism, child abuse
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Social media executives from Facebook, Google and Instagram could be held personally liable for harmful content distributed on their platforms, according to a person familiar with U.K. government plans.
U.K. ministers are frustrated at the slow speed of self-regulation by internet giants amid the dissemination of images relating to terrorism, self-harm, suicide and child abuse. In legislation due to be published Monday, executives could be found liable for the images under a new legally-binding duty of care on the companies. A regulator, likely to be funded by the companies themselves, will be able to impose fines and hold bosses accountable.