Portuguese News Outlet Correio da Manhã Tightens comment Section Rules, Prioritizing Respectful Debate
Lisbon, Portugal – Correio da Manhã, one of Portugal’s leading news publications, has announced a extensive update to the rules governing its online comment sections. The changes, detailed on the newspaper’s website, aim to foster a more constructive and respectful habitat for reader engagement while clarifying the legal responsibilities of those participating in online discussions.
The move underscores a growing trend among news organizations globally to balance the value of reader interaction with the need to moderate harmful content and protect thier platforms from legal challenges.
Key Provisions of the New Rules:
Registration Required: Commenting privileges are now limited to registered users and subscribers of Correio da Manhã’s premium service. This aims to increase accountability and discourage anonymous abuse. Content Ownership & Licensing: Readers retain ownership of their submitted comments, but grant Correio da Manhã a broad, perpetual license to use and distribute that content across all platforms. This is standard practise for user-generated content on news sites.
Strict Content Guidelines: the rules explicitly prohibit obscenity, offensive language, hate speech, racism, xenophobia, discrimination, and any content that could incite violence or illegal activities. Personal attacks and defamation are also forbidden.
No Commercial Activity: The comment sections are not to be used for advertising or commercial purposes outside of officially contracted advertising spaces.
Reader duty: Users are held solely responsible for the content of their comments, including any legal ramifications arising from their publication. Correio da Manhã explicitly states it is not liable for reader-submitted content.
Editorial Discretion: While Correio da Manhã doesn’t commit to proactively monitoring all comments, its editorial team reserves the right to pre-assess and reject submissions that violate the established guidelines.
Disclaimer of Endorsement: The newspaper clearly states that reader comments represent the opinions of their authors alone and do not reflect the views of Correio da Manhã or any third party.
Why This Matters:
This update reflects a broader challenge facing online news platforms: how to cultivate vibrant communities without becoming breeding grounds for toxicity and misinformation. By implementing stricter rules and clarifying user responsibilities, Correio da Manhã is attempting to strike a balance between freedom of expression and the need for a safe and productive online environment.
The emphasis on legal responsibility for commenters is particularly noteworthy, signaling a proactive approach to mitigating potential legal risks associated with user-generated content.
Further Reading:
news, comment section, online moderation, user-generated content, online safety, digital media, journalism, free speech, online debate, content policy.
