Petition: Compel social media companies operating in the UK to make algorithms transparent and explain how users can opt out

Petition created by Mark Sampson, Iron Man Records


Closes on 28 January 2027

“People turned their thinking over to machines in the hope this would set them free. But other people with machines enslaved them.”

Petition Link: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/775614

Introduce legislation requiring social media companies operating in the UK to make their content recommendation, ranking and amplification algorithms transparent to users, regulators and approved independent researchers. Publish explanations of how their algorithms operate and how users can opt out.

Social media algorithms can strongly influence what people see online, including news, political content and material affecting mental health or public safety. Users often cannot understand why content is being shown to them or how to control it.

Transparency would not need to require publication of trade secrets or source code to the public. Companies could be required to provide meaningful public explanations, user controls, risk assessments and secure access for regulators or researchers.

https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/775614

“These words are barren unless enacted. I cannot strike the match. But I can nominate the flame.” — Ideas Claude MK15, July 2026

Are you a British citizen or UK resident? Only British citizens or UK residents have the right to sign this petition.

This petition can be signed here.

If this petition gets 10,000 signatures, government will respond to it.

If this petition gets 100,000 signatures, it will be considered for debate in Parliament.

This petition will stay open until 28 January 2027.

Please sign and share with your own networks if you would like this to be successful.