Social networking and privacy

The PCC has commissioned research into public attitudes to privacy in light of the phenomenal recent development of social networking sites. This will complement other research which has recently been carried out by Ofcom and other organisations. Millions of people are members of online communities such as Facebook, uploading material both about themselves and their friends. Sometimes this is personal information or photographs taken in private places which can be accessed online by many people, including strangers.

There are numerous implications for how news is gathered by journalists, how privacy is protected by bodies like the PCC, and how people in general view privacy as a concept.

Ipsos MORI are looking into these and other questions for the Commission. The results will be discussed at a Westminster Media Forum seminar in London on June 5^th. The research comes at a time of renewed debate about the impact of new communications on individuals with no claim to celebrity. Most recently, the Byron review highlighted the positive role that self-regulation could have in protecting children online, including in minimising the risk of children’s personal information on social networking sites being exploited.

It has been clear to the PCC for some time that the maintenance and improvement of standards online can really only adequately be achieved by self-regulatory bodies. This is because modern digital communication – which is free, immediate and global – renders national jurisdictions meaningless, and imposed rules futile. In these circumstances, the element of co-operation from publishers inherent in self-regulation is essential for the effective promotion and supervision of high standards online.