Calls for a digital ‘kitemark’ to battle misinformation

ITN proposes that internet companies should face the same penalties as broadcasters

The Guardian reports that the news production company ITN has proposed the use of a British Standards ‘kitemark’ to verify the authenticity of news. (The mark is currently used to certify a wide variety of goods and services in the UK). The suggestion is part of a submission to a House of Lords inquiry into the future of journalism. It’s understood that ITN has also proposed the creation of a code of conduct to be agreed voluntarily through time-limited negotiations. If no agreement is reached, then a code would become mandatory. Under the proposals, internet companies would face the same penalties as other ‘quality news providers’ for disseminating misinformation. ITN cites the compulsory code being adopted in Australia as an ‘inspiration’. The Channel 4 News Editor is quoted as saying that the kite-marking of quality content ‘desperately needs to be done’. Read more