The UK government has announced it will introduce new online safety measures in response to an Internet Safety Strategy consultation.
The new online safety measures will enable users to address safety issues online, increase oversight of technology companies operating in the sector, and prevent users from encountering harmful content online. The legislation will be prepared alongside technology companies, charities and other stakeholders, to ensure it is effective and comprehensive.
Despite ongoing work with social media companies in this area, the UK government has warned of an overall lack of progress in this area across the industry, and has announced that it intends to ‘take the lead’ in working with technology and social media companies to protect users.
How will the new measures work?
New online safety measures will be prepared with a view to prevent abuse and harmful content on the internet, ranging from cyberbullying to terrorist propaganda, to child sexual exploitation, and will involve significant collaboration between governmental departments.
The government will also work with industrial stakeholders, regulators, platforms and advertisers, as well as children’s charities and other stakeholders, to ensure that the principles governing traditional media can be effectively translated to online platforms.
What has the government said?
The secretary of state for the department for digital, culture, media and sport, Matt Hancock, emphasised the opportunities inherent in digital innovation, but also warned that strong legislation is necessary to structure innovation and protect users, and championed the government’s work with technology companies to achieve this.
He said: “Digital technology is overwhelmingly a force for good across the world and we must always champion innovation and change for the better… We strongly support technology companies to start up and grow, and we want to work with them to keep our citizens safe.”
Hancock stressed the need to protect children in particular from harmful content online, adding: “People increasingly live their lives through online platforms so it’s more important than ever that people are safe and parents can have confidence they can keep their children from harm. The measures we’re taking forward today will help make sure children are protected online and balance the need for safety with the great freedoms the internet brings.”
