The Guardian has several articles discussing the forthcoming UK government online safety bill.
TechScape: what to expect from the online safety bill | Technology | The Guardian
The bill will impact the global big tech firms, that allow users to post material, comment and interact with other users on the platform – targeted at services such as LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram etc. The law will place a duty of care on the tech giants to protect their users from harmful content – something they often avoid by claiming not to be the publisher of the material in question merely the platform on which it is hosted/displayed. They are also the platform that profits from the material before their rules or public outcry has the material removed.
Phrasing the law will be a challenge to our law makers. The UK Government does not do well when comes to controlling the internet.
Age-verification for online pornography to begin in July – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) (2019)
UK drops plans for online pornography age verification system | Internet | The Guardian (2019)
Enforcing the law when (if) it becomes law could also be an issue. Ofcom’s position is:
“The Ofcom chief executive, Dame Melanie Dawes, had warned of being “overwhelmed” by complaints from social media users and having to deal with the “sheer legal weight” of big tech’s response to the act once it becomes law, which should happen around the end of next year.” Dan Milmo The Guardian Nov 2021.
One of the aims of the bill is to stop anonymous abuse online – something that has to be a good thing and worth all of us supporting it.
Clive Catton MSc (Cyber Security) – by-line and other articles
Online Safety Bill articles (Smart Thinking Solutions)
Online Safety Bill publications – Parliamentary Bills – UK Parliament
Draft Online Safety Bill (Joint Committee) – Summary – Committees – UK Parliament
Draft Online Safety Bill – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Smart Thinking Solutions supports this UK Government initiative:
Let’s stop abuse together – Stop Abuse Together (campaign.gov.uk)
