THE US has accused Labour of seeking to punish critical media outlets with “viewpoint-based censorship”.
Donald Trump’s administration condemned the Government’s plans to force social media sites to promote only news providers deemed “trustworthy”.
The plans would require tech platforms to make stories from public service media such as the BBC more prominent.
The US embassy in London responded by saying: “A framework that empowers governments to influence which sources receive preferential visibility risks becoming a mechanism for viewpoint-based censorship.
“If the UK compels platforms to boost government-preferred media in algorithmic feeds, the effect on a government- disfavoured speaker or media source’s reach is not meaningfully different than outright removal.
“Furthermore, such a mandate could establish a template authoritarian regimes could invoke to justify more control over online content.”
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The News Media Association, which represents the media industry, lashed out at the plans for the government to define which outlets are trustworthy.
It said: “This would be incompatible with a free press, and represent press regulation by the back door.”
A DCMS spokesperson said: “We welcome engagement and responses to our media green paper.
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“We believe strongly in free expression and fair competition, and any action we take will ensure these are protected.”