QuickLinks - Self-regulation / codes of conduct

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Issue no. 412 - 28 November 2010

• Policing Content in the Quasi-Public Sphere (Open Net Initiative)
  Online conversations today exist primarily in the realm of social media and blogging platforms, most of which are owned by private companies. Such privately owned platforms now occupy a significant role in the public sphere, as places in which ideas and information are exchanged and debated by people from every corner of the world. Instead of an unregulated, decentralized Internet, we have centralized platforms serving as public spaces: a quasi-public sphere. This quasi-public sphere is subject to both public and private content controls spanning multiple jurisdictions and differing social mores. This paper will highlight the practices of five platforms — Facebook, YouTube, Flickr, Twitter, and Blogger — in regard to Terms of Service (TOS) and account deactivations. It will highlight each company’s user policies, as well as examples of each company’s procedures for policing content.

Issue no. 411 - 3 October 2010

• EU - Towards more confidence and more value for European Digital Citizens (Europa)
  Neelie Kroes, Vice-President of the European Commission responsible for the Digital Agenda, European Roundtable on the Benefits of Online Advertising for Consumers Brussels, 17 September 2010. A self-regulatory solution for the new rules on cookies is possible. First and foremost, we need effective transparency. Secondly, we need consent. Third, we need a user-friendly solution, possibly based on browser (or another application) settings. Fourth and finally: effective enforcement. It is essential that any self-regulation system includes clear and simple complaint handling, reliable third-party compliance auditing and effective sanctioning mechanisms. If there is no way to detect breaches and enforce sanctions against those who break the rules, then self-regulation will not only be a fiction, it will be a failure. Besides, a system of reliable third party compliance auditing should be in place.

• Policing Content in the Quasi-Public Sphere (Open Net)
  Online conversations today exist primarily in the realm of social media and blogging platforms, most of which are owned by private companies. Such privately owned platforms now occupy a significant role in the public sphere, as places in which ideas and information are exchanged and debated by people from every corner of the world. Instead of an unregulated, decentralized Internet, we have centralized platforms serving as public spaces: a quasi-public sphere. This quasi-public sphere is subject to both public and private content controls spanning multiple jurisdictions and differing social mores. This paper will highlight the practices of five platforms — Facebook, YouTube, Flickr, Twitter, and Blogger — in regard to Terms of Service (TOS) and account deactivations. It will highlight each company’s user policies, as well as examples of each company’s procedures for policing content.

Issue no. 408 - 25 April 2010

• Reuters’ social media guidelines (Socialmedia.biz)
  The guide­lines were issued to Reuters’ news staffers in March 2010. You can find them in the Reuters online hand­book.

Issue no. 407 - 28 March 2010

• UK - Ad regulations limit collection of under-12s' data (OUT-LAW News)
  Marketers must not collect personal data from children under 12 years' old without consent from a parent or guardian, according to new advertising rules. Two new Codes of Practice will come into force in September. The new rules outlaw the collection of children's information; simplify the structure of broadcast ad regulation; and carry new rules against 'greenwashing', the practice of making misleading claims for a product's environmental credentials. The Committee of Advertising Practice (CAP) and Broadcasting Committee of Advertising Practice (BCAP) Codes operate the Codes, to which advertisers sign up and which are policed by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA).

• UK - Ofcom appoints former trade body to regulate on-demand services (OUT-LAW)
  Media regulator OFCOM has appointed the Association for Television on Demand (ATVOD) as the new regulator for video on demand material. Companies offering video on demand services must now notify ATVOD under new EU rules.

Issue no. 401 - 26 July 2009

• Making YouTube a Safer Place (Google European Public Policy Blog)
  As a host for other people's content, YouTube aims to be a strong platform for free expression, while respecting individual choice and protecting young people from inappropriate content and exploitation. Over the past year, we've bolstered our efforts in four major areas: (1) developing clear policies about what is and is not acceptable on the site; (2) constructing robust mechanisms to enforce these policies; (3) rolling out innovative product features that enable safe behaviour; and (4) upping our educational efforts to increase user awareness of how to stay safe on the site.

Issue no. 400 - 5 July 2009

• EU - Spanish and Estonian sites sign the Safer Social Networking Principles (Europa)
  Tuenti and Rate are popular social networking services for young people in Spain and Estonia. By committing themselves to the "Safer Social Networking Principles for the EU" they take a step forward in keeping their online services safe. Signatories to the Principles committed to send to the European Commission a self-declaration, highlighting the way they implement the provisions of the Principles. As of 17 June 2009 the following companies have sent their self-declarations: Arto, Bebo, Dailymotion, Facebook, Google, Hyves, Microsoft Europe, MySpace, nasza-klasa.pl, Netlog, One.lt, Piczo, Rate.ee, Skyrock, StudiVZ.de, Sulake/Habbo, Tuenti ,Yahoo! Europe, Zap.lu. The European Commission will monitor the implementation of the Principles and it will publish the results of its assessment in February 2010. The "Safer Social Networking Principles for the EU" is a self-regulatory agreement signed on 10 February 2009 by 18 major social networking providers active in Europe. These Principles have been developed by SNS providers in consultation with the European Commission, as part of its Safer Internet Programme, and a number of NGOs, to provide good practice recommendations for the providers of social networking and other user interactive sites, to enhance the safety of children and young people using their services.

• FR - Un label officiel pour faire confiance aux comparateurs de prix (01net)
  Un an après l'adoption d'une charte garantissant leur transparence, les comparateurs de prix sur Internet se dotent d'un label validé par les pouvoirs publics.

• US - Online ad groups release new behavioral ad principles (IDG News Service)
  Online consumers should get more information about what information is being tracked and collected for the purposes of behavioral advertising, and they should have more control over what data is being collected, according to new privacy principles released by four advertising trade groups. Online advertising networks should also "maintain appropriate physical, electronic, and administrative safeguards" to protect data collected, and they should retain the data "only as long as necessary to fulfill a legitimate business need, or as required by law," the principles said. see also Self-regulatory principles for behavioral advertising (Google Polciy Blog) by Pablo Chavez. Of course, for any self-regulatory effort to be effective, there has to be some kind of enforcement process.

Issue no. 399 - 7 June 2009

• EU - Commission calls on mobile operators to continue to improve child safety policies (RAPID)
  The European Commission today called on mobile operators to do more to keep children safe while using mobile phones by putting in place all the measures in the voluntary code of conduct, signed by 26 mobile operators in 2007. A report just published by the GSM Association, the trade body of the mobile phone industry, showed that national self-regulatory codes based on the framework agreement brokered by the European Commission now exist in 22 Member States, 90% of them in line with the 2007 agreement, and 80% of operators have put in place measures to control child access to adult content.

• EU - European Framework for Safer Mobile Use - implementation report (GSM Association)
  Two years on from the introduction of the European Framework for Safer Mobile Use by Younger Teenagers and Children, Pricewaterhouse Coopers published a report summarising the status of its implementation in the EU. The report shows that the Framework has been transposed into codes of conduct in 22 EU Member States and that mobile operator signatories have taken substantial action to implement these codes alongside other voluntary activities.

Issue no. 397 - 8 March 2009

• EU - First European agreement of Social Networks - a step forward to child safety online (RAPID)
  Speech by Viviane Reding, Member of the European Commission responsible for Information Society and Media, Safer Internet Day, Luxembourg, 10 February 2009. See also Social Networking: Commission brokers agreement among major web companies (Press Release), Making the most of social networking and Text of agreement. See also Safer social networking and self regulation (Google Public Policy blog) by Luc Delany.

Issue no. 395 - 27 December 2008

• FR - Free fait bande à part dans les télécoms (01net.)
  La filiale d'Iliad quitte la Fédération française des télécommunications pour cause de divergences sur des « sujets de fond » avec les autres opérateurs.

Issue no. 394 - 7 December 2008

• YouTube's crackdown on suggestive content (Net Family News)
  "It's a bad week for Internet porn,"a Wired blogger reports. Indeed. Given the news from Ning and now with YouTube "cracking down on sexually suggestive content," as VentureBeat reports. Here's some of what YouTube's crackdown looks like: "Videos that are 'sexually suggestive' (but not prohibited) will now be age-restricted to viewers 18 or older [if younger ones are truthful about their ages when they register]. In addition, these types of videos will be algorithmically demoted on pages like 'Most Viewed' and 'Top Favorites'." Also, "thumbnails" (little still images that represent videos in YouTube) will be automatically generated by the site rather than chosen by the videos' creators.

Issue no. 393 - 9 November 2008

• DE - Freiwillige Selbstkontrolleinrichtungen Multimedia-Diensteanbieter und Fernsehen bündeln Kompetenzen (FSM)
  Die Freiwillige Selbstkontrolle Multimedia-Diensteanbieter e.V. (FSM) und die Freiwillige Selbstkontrolle Fernsehen e.V. (FSF) werden in Zukunft eng zusammenarbeiten. Das haben die Vorstände beider Selbstkontrollen beschlossen. Hintergrund ist die fortschreitende Konvergenz der Medien, die ermöglicht, gleiche Inhalte über verschiedene Vertriebskanäle abzurufen.

• DE - Mobilfunkbranche leistet Beitrag zum Jugendschutz (Heise)
  Ein Jahr nach der Unterzeichnung einer Selbstverpflichtung für mehr Jugendschutz durch Mobilfunkanbieter und die Freiwillige Selbstkontrolle Multimedia-Diensteanbieter (FSM) ziehen die beteiligten Unternehmen positive Bilanz. Die vom rheinland-pfälzischen Jugendministerium initiierte Selbstverpflichtung sei erfolgreich umgesetzt worden, teilte die FSM mit.

• US - Tech giants in human rights deal (BBC)
  Microsoft, Google and Yahoo have signed a global code of conduct promising to offer better protection for online free speech and against official intrusion. The Global Network Initiative follows criticism that companies were assisting governments in countries like China to censor he Internet. see also New steps to protect free expression and privacy around the world (Google Public Policy Blog) by Andrew McLaughlin.

Issue no. 392 - 5 October 2008

• US - YouTube Bans Videos That Incite Violence (Washington Post)
  The video-sharing service YouTube is banning submissions that involve "inciting others to violence," following criticism from Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman that the site was too open to terrorist groups disseminating militant propaganda. The company earlier this year removed some of the videos that Lieberman targeted, many of which were marked with the logos of al-Qaeda and affiliated groups. But the company refused to take down most of the videos on the senator's list, saying they did not violate the Web site's guidelines against graphic violence or hate speech. Now that videos inciting others to violence are banned, more videos by the terrorist groups in question may be removed.

Issue no. 391 - 31 August 2008

• CN - Internet Giants to Create China Code of Conduct (Techtree News)
  Technology giants like Microsoft, Google and Yahoo have reached an agreement with other Internet companies and human rights groups to draw up a voluntary code of conduct for doing business in countries like China that impose restrictions on Internet. The three companies have sent separate letters to Sen. Richard Durbin (D., Ill.), and Sen. Tom Coburn (R., Okla.). Among the few specifics about the code mentioned in the letters include formulating principles on freedom of expression and privacy, identifying guidelines for their implementation, and drawing up a governance, accountability and learning framework.

• US - Tech giants near agreement on human rights code (OUT-LAW News)
  Some of the biggest technology and internet companies in the world have agreed a set of standards to protect human rights online that they hope the whole IT industry will adopt. Google, Microsoft, Vodafone, Yahoo! and others agreed 18 months ago to try to create a code of conduct for companies who wanted to behave in a way that respected human rights. Those companies and others are now close to finalising a code of conduct for companies under the banner 'ICT Initiative on Freedom of Expression and Privacy'.

Issue no. 390 - 20 July 2008

• AU - Govt, industry welcome new online code of practice (Computerworld)
  The Communications minister has signaled the Australian government's support for the Content Services Code, an Internet Industry Association code of practice for providers of online and mobile phone content. This establishes a framework for the regulation of content services, such as Internet streaming and 3G mobile services, to provide protection to children from exposure to unsuitable content and ensure content providers adhere to requirements of the new code.

Issue no. 388 - 1 June 2008

• UK - Scottish teachers told to be wary online (BBC)
  Teachers in Scotland have been asked to adhere to a new code of conduct. Drawn up by regulatory body the General Teaching Council of Scotland, it warns teachers to be careful when online and approached by pupils. School teachers using their home computers have been warned about the dangers of putting too much personal information on the internet.

Issue no. 384 - 24 February 2008

• CN - China's major websites pledge to boycott 4 categories of Internet unpleasantness (Xinhua)
  China's eight leading online media officially sanctioned to publish news have signed the "Chinese Pact on the Self-discipline on Visual-Audio Programs and Services of the Internet", urging all domestic websites to spread positive, healthy programs and boycott corrupt, outdated ones. It urges all the signers to abide by the country's laws, regulations and policies on the development and management of the Internet culture and boycott programs, including films, teleplays and cartoons that advocate elements in the catch-all categories of violence, pornography, gambling and terror.

• DE - Mehr Jugendschutz bei Handys (bildungsklick.de)
  Die führenden Mobilfunkunternehmen in Deutschland haben nach intensiven Verhandlungen mit den Jugendministerien der Länder, die durch das Land Rheinland-Pfalz vertreten wurden, eine freiwillige Selbstverpflichtung zu mehr Jugendschutz im Mobilfunkbereich unterzeichnet. Jugendmedienschutz im Mobilfunk - Selbstverpflichtung der Mobilfunkanbieter.

• UK - Online content providers sign up to code of conduct to protect children (Guardian)
  Media companies including the BBC, Channel 4, Google, Yahoo and social-networking site Bebo have signed up to a new code of conduct, designed to give parents more information about the suitability for children of audiovisual content available on the internet and mobile phones. The new content information guidelines have been developed by industry and the government's independent advisory body the Broadband Stakeholder Group, backed by regulator Ofcom. For the first time, they extend the existing principles of broadcast consumer guidance across the wider new media industry. The guidelines do not cover user-generated content such as that found on YouTube or adverts. Instead, they call for all commercially generated content available online or on mobile phones to be flagged if it is unsuitable for particular age groups or contains content that may harm or offend. See Good Practice Principles on Audiovisual Content Information.

Issue no. 383 - 27 January 2008

• UK - Mobile firms face tough rules on internet access for children (Times)
  A scheme to prevent children accessing pornography, gambling and other adult services on the latest mobile phones is to be reviewed by the telecoms regulator. The inquiry has been triggered by complaints from charities about the project, which was launched at the request of the Home Office. It could lead to the voluntary code being replaced with tough new rules.

Issue no. 379 - 2 September 2007

• UK - Betting firms agree ad code (MediaGuardian.co.uk)
  The gambling industry has agreed a new marketing code that includes a pre-9pm watershed ban on TV advertising and an end to branding on children's replica football shirts. The voluntary code for socially responsible advertising, supported by 12 industry bodies including the British Casino Association, has been hurriedly drawn up following pressure from the new culture secretary, James Purnell.

Issue no. 378 - 5 August 2007

• EU - Evaluation of Internet Self Regulation Survey (RAND Europe)
  RAND Europe invite contributions to an online survey from all Internet users with knowledge of self-regulatory institutions. This research institute is conducting fieldwork for the European Commission to evaluate options for and effectiveness of self-regulation in the Information Society. The findings and recommendations will be validated by means of a key stakeholder workshop and reported in a form suitable for wide dissemination and discussion. The final date for completion of the online survey is the 31st October 2007.

• UK - Manchester Cathedral says Sony apology not enough and issues new digital rules (Times)
  Manchester Cathedral is calling for all video games manufacturers to sign up to a new set of "sacred digital guidelines" to prevent future "virtual desecration" of religious buildings. Digital Guidelines code of conduct: 1. Respect our sacred spaces as places of prayer, worship, peace, learning and heritage. 2. Do not assume that sacred space interiors are copyright free. 3. Get permission from the faith leaders who are responsible for the building interiors you want to clone. 4. Support the work of those engaged in resisting the culture of gun crime and those involved in promoting the work of conflict resolution.

• UK - Sony 'sorry' over cathedral game (BBC)
  Sony has issued an "unreserved" apology to Manchester Cathedral for using it as a violent computer game backdrop. The firm published an apology in a city newspaper but has confirmed it will not be withdrawing the game or making any changes to it.

Issue no. 377 - 5 July 2007

• EU - Self regulation applied to interactive games : success and challenges (RAPID)
  Viviane Reding, Member of the European Commission responsible for Information Society and Media, ISFE Expert Conference, Brussels, 26 June 2007.

• EU - Services Directive: Commission consults service providers on codes of conduct (RAPID)
  The European Commission is asking professional associations in the EU to provide information on their codes of conduct, either existing or in preparation, and to give their opinions on how best to develop codes of conduct at European level. Encouraging the development of such codes of conduct could contribute to the improvement of quality of service, which is an important aspect of the Services Directive, due to be implemented in Member States by end 2009. The consultation, which is in the form of an online questionnaire, is open until 30 July 2007.

Issue no. 376 - 10 June 2007

• US - Mass deletion sparks LiveJournal revolt (CNET News)
  Thousands of LiveJournal customers are rebelling against the company's recent decision to censor hundreds of sex-themed discussion groups, a broad swath that has led to the removal of literary critiques and fan-written fiction about Harry Potter. LiveJournal deleted around 500 journals this week in hopes of better "protecting children.

Issue no. 375 - 9 May 2007

• Call for blogging code of conduct (BBC)
  The support for a blogger hounded by death threats has intensified with some high profile web experts calling for a code of conduct in the blogosphere. Kathy Sierra, the female blogger at the centre of the row has been shocked to discover that hers is not an isolated incident. See also Call for a Blogger's Code of Conduct (Tim O'Reilly).

• UK - User generated content white paper (Press Release)
  Companies investing in user generated content (UGC) websites must consider how they will protect their brands from negative or inappropriate submissions from site users, according to a new white paper from UGC moderation company, eModeration. The paper, Six Techniques for Safer User Generated Content Campaigns, details techniques for creators of UGC sites to protect both their brand reputations and their users; while creating a site that is fun and engaging for users.

• US - FTC: Game industry self-policing improving (GameSpot)
  While concerned parents and legislators have criticized the gaming industry as selling violent games to children, a report by the Federal Trade Commission names the gaming industry as the most improved media when it comes to keeping children from inappropriate content. see also FTC: Games better regulated than music, movies (Ars Technica).

• Weblogs 'need content warnings' (BBC)
  Readers should be warned when they are reading blogs that may contain "crude language", a draft blogging code of conduct has suggested. The code was drawn up by web pioneer Tim O'Reilly following published threats and perceived harassment to US developer Kathy Sierra on blogs. The draft says people should not be allowed to leave anonymous comments. Blogs which are open and uncensored should post an "anything goes" logo to the site to warn readers, the code suggests.

Issue no. 372 - 25 February 2007

• EU - Mobile operators agree on how to safeguard children using mobile phones (RAPID)
  Leading European mobile operators signed in Brussels an agreement on how to protect minors using mobile phones. This agreement, brokered by the European Commission, responds to the findings of the Commission's public consultation on child safety and mobile phones published today. In the agreement, mobile operators undertake to develop self-regulatory codes by February 2008.

• EU - Mobilfunker in Europa wollen mehr für Jugendschutz tun (Heise)
  Die großen Mobilfunkanbieter in Europa haben eine Vereinbarung mit der EU-Kommission unterzeichnet, in der sie sich zur Ausarbeitung von Jugendschutzmaßnahmen bis Februar kommenden Jahres verpflichten. Das teilte die EU-Kommission mit, garniert mit Lob von Viviane Reding, Kommissarin für Informationsgesellschaft und Medien, für die Mobilfunkbetreiber. Alle Unterzeichner des "Europäischen Rahmenabkommens für die sichere Nutzung von Mobilfunktelefonen durch jüngere Teenager und Kinder", das aus Anlass des Safer Internet Day heute unterzeichnet wurde, werden demzufolge an Zugangskontrollen für pornografische Inhalte arbeiten. Außerdem sollen öffentlichkeitswirksame Kampagnen, Klassifizierungsmechanismen für gewerbliche Inhalte und Kampf gegen illegale Inhalte den Jugendschutz beim Mobilfunk verbessern.

• EU - study on co-regulation measures in the media sector (RAPID)
  In a rapidly evolving digital world, self- and co-regulatory models can be attractive alternatives to traditional regulations, according to a study for the European Commission. The study on co-regulation measures in the media sector was undertaken for the Commission by the Hans-Bredow Institut for media research, at the University of Hamburg, in cooperation with the Institute for European Media Law in Saarbrücken, and presented today in Brussels. It concluded that, in general, industry needs sufficient incentives to support such a regime. Having a state run regulator in the background often gives self-regulatory bodies the power they need to work effectively. In addition, sufficient means to enforce regulations, such as adequate and proportional sanctions seem to be necessary for a co-regulatory system to be workable.

• FR - Bientôt un label de qualité pour les sites web d'information? (ZDNet France)
  Un rapport remis au ministère de la Culture propose de décerner un label de qualité aux sites internet d´information respectant certaines règles, notamment déontologiques. Un moyen de favoriser le développement de la presse en ligne, y compris payante.

• Safer Internet Day (New Europe)
  Vivian Reding, European commissioner for telecommunications and media scored another major victory for European citizens when leading European mobile operators signed up to measures aimed at protecting minors from accessing pornography and hate speech on cell phones.

Issue no. 370 - 3 December 2006

• UK - Voluntary code for blogs 'needed' (BBc)
  Blogs and other internet sites should be covered by a voluntary code of practice similar to that for newspapers in the UK, a conference has been told. Press Complaints Commission director Tim Toulmin said he opposed government regulation of the internet, saying it should a place 'in which views bloom'. But unless there was a voluntary code of conduct there would be no form of redress for people angered at content.

Issue no. 366 - 3 September 2006

• EU - Study on co-regulation measures in the media sector (Europa)
  Executive summary and Final report (incl. Annexes 1 & 2) & Additional Annexes: Annex 3 - Questionnaires; Annex 4 Media Systems (Country reports); Annex 5 - Reports on possible co-operative regulatory systems.

Issue no. 363 - 25 June 2006

• DK - Ethical guidelines for chat rooms (FDIM)
  The Danish Association of Internet Media, FDIM, has been asked by the Danish Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Helge Sander, to spearhead the development of a labelling scheme for chat rooms. The association is to draft ethical guidelines with the aim to make Danish chat rooms safer for users. In the development of these guidelines, FDIM will draw on the experiences of, amongst others, Save the Children Denmark and the Danish Crime Prevention Council. [Ed: Information from Dieter Carstensen. Link to FDIM Press Release in Danish.]

Issue no. 360 - 14 May 2006

• AU - ACMA encourages consumers to report on lack of internet safety measures (Press Release)
  The Australian Communications and Media Authority is encouraging consumers to double check that their internet service provider is offering information on how to keep families safe online. A recent audit of the twenty-four largest Australian internet service providers by ACMA has found a high degree of compliance with consumer protection obligations under the industry's content codes of practice. Under the codes, all internet service providers must display a prominent link to online safety information on their homepage and provide regular information to consumers about filters. AU - No certainty for ISPs on filters

Issue no. 359 - 9 May 2006

• CN - China Web portals pledge stronger self-policing (Reuters)
  China's top Web portals, including Sina and Tom Online, have agreed to rid their sites of 'unhealthy' content, amid a broader Beijing campaign to clean up the Internet. Other major players in the self-policing drive include Sohu.com, NetEase.com, Baidu.com and Yahoo's China Web portal, according to the text of a pledge by 14 companies posted on Sina's Web site.

• FR - Le Forum des droits sur l'Internet recommande sa "marque de confiance" (NetEconomie)
  Le Forum des droits sur l'Internet a remis aux ministres Sarkozy et Bas sa recommandation en faveur de la création d'une "marque de confiance" en ligne. Cette "marque de confiance" identifiera par un logo les prestataires qui s'engagent à sécuriser les usages, protéger les mineurs, lutter contre les spams, virus et fraudes.

Issue no. 358 - 21 April 2006

• UK - Co- and Self-Regulatory Forum (Broadband Stakeholder Group)
  The Co- and Self-Regulatory Forum was established in November 2005 in response to the European Commission's references in their revised Television Without Frontiers (TWF) Directive to the important role that co- and self-regulation has in delivering public policy objectives in the audiovisual media sector.

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