Digital Advertising 2020-12-10

2020-12-10

TAGS
Response quality

Questions & Answers

Q1 Partial Answer
Context
The question arises from the challenges posed by modern digital advertising and its impact on traditional media.
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.
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.
Assessment & feedback
Specific steps to protect local journalism were not detailed
Response accuracy
Q2 Partial Answer
Context
Local media faces significant challenges due to the shift in advertising online, affecting local independent news production.
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?
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.
Assessment & feedback
Specific steps to protect local journalism were not detailed
Response accuracy
Q3 Partial Answer
Chi Onwurah Lab
Newcastle upon Tyne Central and West
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.
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?
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.
Assessment & feedback
Confirmation of undefined powers and weakening Bill were not addressed
Response accuracy