Is the regulation of British newspapers desirable?

Question

The debate on possible statutory regulation of newspapers is to take place today, 18 March.
Does not the general public have more to fear from their "elected representatives" at Westminster than it does from the Press?
After all, it was this "worthy" bunch of part timers who were "screwing" the tax payers for every penny they could fiddle on their expenses claims, and the much-maligned newspapers who exposed them.
Should we not have more to fear from MPs than from Fleet Street?

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

It is very undesirable to have government regulate the press.

Even slight regulation makes publishers subject to government intimidation, including the granting of regulatory privileges (cronyism) that gives some an advantage over their competitors.

Government regulation of the press represents the end of a free society - because, like in China, the government can control the substance, spin, and even the existence of news - especially in an indirect manner with the suggestion of criminal prosecution.

Of course, the general regulation of ANYONE's libelous or slanderous remarks is perfectly okay - as long as a rule of law is available, and all are subject to the same statutes.

Is the regulation of British newspapers desirable?

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