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11 J. Media L. 1 (2019)

handle is hein.journals/joomaw11 and id is 1 raw text is: JOURNAL OF MEDIA LAW 2019, VOL. 11, NO. 1, 1-5 Routledge https://doi.org/10.1080/17577632.2019.1670445 Taylor &Francis Group SYMPOSIUM: ONLINE HARMS WHITE PAPER Introduction Jacob Rowbottoma,b aUniversity College, Oxford, UK; bThe Faculty of Law, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK In April 2019, the government published its long-awaited Online Harms White Paper.' The White Paper proposes a comprehensive framework for digital media regulation under the umbrella concept of a duty of care. Within that simple overarching concept, the proposals seek to cover a wide range of harms, from child sexual exploitation, terrorism, online bullying, harassment of public figures and the promotion of suicide and self-harm. The proposals are of significant importance to media lawyers. If implemented, the proposals will create a new regulatory regime that will sit alongside broad- cast regulation and press self-regulation in determining what content can be made available to a mass audience. The provisions of a new regulatory system will be a key part of the practicing media lawyer's toolkit when dealing with a wide range of complaints, along with traditional actions such as defamation and misuse of private information. The proposals recognise the technology companies as key players in the infrastructure for communication and the media landscape. However, as the regulations will impact on the expression of individuals using the services, the issues and balances to be struck are different from those found with the traditional mass media. Reflecting the importance of the proposals, the Journal of Media Law co- hosted a symposium on the White Paper, along with the Bonavero Institute of Human Rights, in Oxford in June 2019. At the symposium, a range of views were expressed about the White Paper. Some viewed the proposals as being misguided, opening the door to the comprehensive state regulation of individual expression. Other participants accepted the need for some regu- lation and welcomed the general approach, but expressed caution, in particu- lar in relation to the range of harms being targeted and the uncertainty about the standard of care under the White Paper proposals. This edition of the Journal of Media Law includes four contributions from that symposium. Lorna Woods, whose work has been particularly influential on the White Paper proposals, explains how the duty of care is comparable to the regulatory model for health and safety at work. Professor Woods argues that the duty CONTACT Jacob Rowbottom 0 jacob.rowbottom@univ.ox.ac.uk 'Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, and the Home Office, Online Harms White Paper (2019, CP 57). D 2019 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group

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