# Britain, EU must use caution in new online rules – UN
Author:  Pal Sinha, Barnali 
Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali
Published: 2021-07-14
Category: NEWS
Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/news
Meta Title: UN Officials Warn Against Over-Broad Online Content Laws
Meta Description: United Nations officials caution against broad definitions in regulating online content to prevent curbing free speech, citing risks of limiting civil society.
URL: https://financedigest.com/britain-eu-must-use-caution-in-new-online-rules-unhtml

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By Stephanie Nebehay

GENEVA (Reuters) – Britain and other countries drawing up [legislation](https://www.financedigest.com/new-legislation-makes-switching-bank-accounts-simples.html) to regulate online content – including racist abuse – must avoid overly broad definitions and over-reliance on algorithms that might curb free [speech,](https://www.financedigest.com/britains-new-king-will-address-the-nation-on-friday.html) United Nations officials warned on Wednesday.

Some 40 new laws on social media have been adopted worldwide in the last two years, including Vietnam’s 2019 cybersecurity law https://www.reuters.com/article/us-vietnam-socialmedia/vietnam-to-tighten-grip-on-social-media-livestream-activity-idINKBN2EK0NE?edition-redirect=in which the experts said had been used to delete posts and arrest those voicing critical opinions.

Virtually every country that has adopted [laws relating](https://www.financedigest.com/britain-to-defy-eu-with-relatively-trivial-n-ireland-law.html "Britain to defy EU with ‘relatively trivial’ N.Ireland law") to online content has jeopardized human rights in doing so,” Peggy Hicks, a senior official at the U.N. human rights office, told a news briefing.

This happens both because [governments respond to public pressure by rushing in with simple solutions for complex problems; and because some governments see this legislation as a way to limit speech](https://www.financedigest.com/factbox-uk-government-sets-out-priorities-in-queens-speech.html "Factbox-UK government sets out priorities in Queen’s speech") they dislike and even silence civil society or other critics,” she said.

Black players in the [England soccer team were subjected to a storm](https://www.financedigest.com/cricket-australia-storm-rattles-england-after-drizzle-delay.html "Cricket-Australia storm rattles England after drizzle delay") of online racist abuse https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/uk-pm-johnson-condemns-racist-abuse-england-soccer-team-2021-07-12 after their defeat in the final of the Euro 2020 on Sunday, drawing wide condemnation.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson pledged on Wednesday https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/uk-will-fine-firms-drive-racist-abuse-off-online-sites-says-johnson-2021-07-14 to [strengthen measures against online](https://www.financedigest.com/5-steps-to-strengthening-your-online-financial-security.html "5 Steps to Strengthening Your Online Financial Security") racist abuse of soccer players, banning fans from games if they are found guilty of such offences and fining social media firms for failing to remove it.

Hicks, asked to elaborate on [Britain’s proposed](https://www.financedigest.com/britain-proposes-insurance-shake-up-after-grenfell-tower-fire.html "Britain proposes insurance shake-up after Grenfell Tower fire") legislation, said: “I think first we need to be clear that you can’t wave a magic wand and make racism on the Internet disappear. … The [reality is that what we see online is mirroring what people face](https://www.financedigest.com/after-christmas-relief-uk-retailers-face-2023-reality-check.html "After Christmas relief UK retailers face 2023 reality check") day-to-day offline.

She added: “To block racist speech through algorithm – the type of speech that we’ve seen in this [case](https://www.financedigest.com/growing-cases-of-down-syndrome-to-drive-the-speech-therapy-services-market.html "Growing cases of “Down Syndrome” to drive the Speech Therapy Services Market") – for some of it at least you would need a really sweeping approach that undoubtedly would block more speech than what we’d want to see blocked.

The European Union (EU) last December proposed the Digital Services Act, which requires [tech giants to do more to tackle illegal content such as hate speech and child sexual abuse material](https://www.financedigest.com/uk-to-fine-tech-companies-that-fail-to-remove-self-harm-material.html "UK to fine tech companies that fail to remove self-harm material").

“The choices made in that legislation could have ripple effects worldwide,” U.N. human rights officer Marcelo Daher said, citing positive elements including its [transparency requirements](https://www.financedigest.com/thomson-reuters-announces-suite-of-reference-data-capabilities-to-help-financial-industry-meet-mifid-ii-transparency-and-reporting-requirements.html "Thomson Reuters Announces Suite of Reference Data Capabilities to Help Financial Industry Meet MiFID II Transparency and Reporting Requirements").

Yet some contradictory signals remain including the [risk that over-broad liability will be imposed on companies](https://www.financedigest.com/mitigating-supply-chain-risks-five-critical-tips-financial-services-companies.html "Mitigating supply chain risks – five critical tips for financial services companies") for user-generated content, and that there will be limited judicial oversight,” he said.

(Reporting by Stephanie Nebehay; editing by Jonathan Oatis)


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