News titles signed up to press watchdog Impress could find themselves in trouble if their content is found to have encouraged social media abuse.

The regulator has beefed up its Standards Code when it comes to journalists publishing content that is deemed discriminatory.

Among the changes to the Impress Code are fresh guidance on Clause 4 (Discrimination), which makes clear that member titles must not encourage hatred or abuse against any group based on characteristics including age, disability, health, gender identity or reassignment, marital or civil partnership status, pregnancy, race, religion or sexual orientation.

The guidance now states that content that “encourages others to discriminate” against people based on those characteristics on social media could be found to be a breach of Code, as well as content that has led to people being excluded from online communities or refused service in hospitality settings.

Language considered “dehumanising”, such as certain groups being likened to vermin, bacteria, pollution or aliens may also be considered a breach of Code.

While the majority of regional newspapers and their publishers are signed up to the Independent Press Standards Organisation, a number of independent and hyperlocal titles are with Impress.

Unlike IPSO’s Editors’ Code of Practice, the Impress Standards Code contains a specific Clause relating to Attribution & Plagiarism, which calls for publishers to take reasonable steps to identify the creators of original content they have used.

The new Impress Code has also taken into account the increasing impact of artificial intelligence, urging editorial staff to be aware of the use of AI and other technology to create and circulate false content and to exercise human editorial oversight to reduce the risk of publishing such content.

Impress chair Richard Ayre said: “With more news, more sources, more publishers, more opinions than ever before, the opportunities for journalism are limitless. But nothing’s easier for a journalist to lose than public trust.

“This new Code sets the highest ethical standards for Impress publishers, large and small, and whatever their point of view, so the public can confidently engage with the news of today, and tomorrow.”