The Prime Minister believes law changes are needed to bring online news providers into line with traditional media.
His comments come after the Law Commission released a paper floating the idea of a tribunal and regulator to replace the Broadcasting Standards Authority and the Press Council.
Law Commission proposes new media watchdog
The Commission says malicious use of the internet as a
publishing platform is causing harm.
The regulator would be independent of government and the news media - while the communications tribunal would operate at a lower level to courts.
John Key agrees modern online media need tighter governance.
“On the instance of suicide reporting, we’re making a mockery of the current rules because the traditional broadcasters are very contained in what they can do, but on the internet virtually anything goes.”
Submissions on the Law Commission paper, titled The News Media Meets New Media, are due by March 12.
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