Epistemic Security Briefing | Boosting the prominence of public interest news FAQ

In 2026, large technology companies are significantly influencing how and which information citizens have access to with concerning impacts on the overall functioning of democracy.

The algorithmic design choices and content prioritisation processes of online platforms mean that public interest news sources struggle for discoverability. Referral traffic is declining, media organisations face financial consequences that threaten their long-term survival, and misinformation continues to spread.

In an age of linear television, prominence and ‘must carry’ rules for public service broadcasters ensured that citizens could easily access accurate and trusted information. But, with audiences increasingly turning to online platforms to access information, these rules no longer fit with our media consumption habits.

As the government prepares to release proposals to remedy the problem this week, this Demos FAQ sets out what new rules could mean for publishers and broadcasters, why this matters for ordinary people and what is at stake.

For more detail, our recent paper Fairer Feeds provides extensive context and recommends updating the UK’s existing prominence rules ensuring that content prioritisation processes on platforms allow citizens to consistently access public interest information and fulfil their basic democratic needs.