London,
18
February
2019
|
13:25
Europe/London

CIPR welcomes DCMS call to tackle fake news

The fabric of UK democracy is threatened by disinformation and data misuse, according to the latest Department for Culture Media and Sport Select Committee report. The report calls for an end to inadequate self-regulation and recommends a series of new regulations for social media companies to act against harmful or illegal behaviour.

Following an 18 month inquiry, the final report by the committee follows the interim report published in 2018 and recommends a mandatory Code of Ethics for social media companies to be enforced by an independent regulator.

CIPR President, Emma Leech Found.Chart.PR FCIPR
Public relations professionals should be front and centre of efforts to promote truth and denounce dishonest information. Fake news and disinformation have far-reaching consequences for our industry and wider society. We should be bold in our condemnation in these tactics. We welcome the recommendations in this report and urge the government to address the issues in its forthcoming White Paper on the issue.
CIPR President, Emma Leech Found.Chart.PR FCIPR

The report also calls for an overhaul of electoral law which is “unfit for purpose” and fails to reflect changes in campaigning techniques including advertising and political campaigning.

 
Notes to editors

About the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR)Founded in 1948, the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) is the Royal Chartered professional body for public relations practitioners in the UK and overseas. The CIPR is the largest membership organisation for PR practitioners outside of North America. By size of turnover and number of individually registered members, we are the leading representative body for the PR profession and industry in Europe.

The CIPR advances professionalism in public relations by making its members accountable to their employers and the public through a code of conduct and searchable public register, setting standards through training, qualifications, awards and the production of best practice and skills guidance, facilitating Continuing Professional Development (CPD), and awarding Chartered Public Relations Practitioner status (Chart.PR).