Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Digital Advertising

Thursday 10 December 2020 · 3 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 3 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The Department is considering the adequacy of current advertising regulation in addressing modern challenges.
  • The Government will launch a public consultation next year on the regulation of online advertising.
  • The Government recognizes the vital role of local media in supporting communities and providing reliable information.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Andy Carter
Culture, Media & Sport
Context

The question arises from the challenges posed by modern digital advertising and its impact on traditional media.

Question

What steps his Department is taking to reform digital advertising. Local journalism is funded on the whole by local advertising, be that in local newspapers or local radio, and the structural impact of the changes in our local economies and the move online is having a significant impact on the way that local independent news is produced.

Answer from Caroline Dinenage

We are carefully considering the extent to which current advertising regulation is fit to tackle the challenges posed by the modern world. Next year we will be launching a public consultation on the regulation of online advertising. We recognise the vital role publications like his own Warrington Guardian play in supporting communities but also in providing reliable information. We strongly welcome the recommendations in the Competition and Markets Authority report and the setting up of a digital markets unit within the CMA to ensure fairness in regulating digital platforms.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific steps to protect local journalism were not detailed

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Q2 Andy Carter
Democracy & Elections Culture, Media & Sport
Context

Local media faces significant challenges due to the shift in advertising online, affecting local independent news production.

Question

Can the Minister give us more details on the steps the Government are taking to protect local journalism, which is so important to maintaining local democracy?

Answer from Caroline Dinenage

My hon. Friend is a great champion for local media and newspapers in his area. We recognise the vital role publications like his own Warrington Guardian play in supporting communities but also in providing reliable information. We strongly welcome the recommendations in the Competition and Markets Authority report and the setting up of a digital markets unit within the CMA to ensure fairness in regulating digital platforms.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific steps to protect local journalism were not detailed

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Q3 Chi Onwurah Lab Newcastle upon Tyne Central and West
Taxation Culture, Media & Sport Business & Trade
Context

Criticism of tech companies for using data to influence consumer behaviour, harming local retailers. Concerns about the lack of defined powers for digital markets unit and weakening online harms Bill.

Question

Only Google and Facebook are not buying presents—just using our data, behaviour and social contacts to tell us what to buy through their domination of online advertising, while our local retailers, who pay significant taxes and employ so many people, lose out. Can the Minister confirm that the digital markets unit's powers have yet to be defined and that powers in the long-delayed online harms Bill are being watered down? Will she promise now to stop tech companies selling on our data?

Answer from Caroline Dinenage

Online advertising is clearly an important driver of the UK economy. The Government are really committed to supporting the continued growth of the industry, but it needs to be fairer and better regulated. So we will launch a public consultation next year on measures to enhance how online advertising is regulated in the UK. That will build on the call for evidence we launched this year, and we will consider options to enhance the regulation of advertising content and placement online.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Confirmation of undefined powers and weakening Bill were not addressed

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