Don’t delay online harms code, say children’s groups
DELAYS bringing in the UK’S first statutory online child protection code means the Government is “capitulating to tech giants”, a senior peer said as charities described any setback implementing new rules as “unconscionable”. Baroness Kidron, whose House of Lords amendment created the Age Appropriate Design Code, said it was needed more than ever in a “time of unparalleled digital use by children”.
The Government is yet to lay the code before MPS and it may not come into force until late next year.
A coalition of UK children’s charities fears that if the code is not laid before Parliament before the June 10 recess, it will further delay the process.
The Government refused to commit to a date, but said it was working to bring the code before MPS “as soon as reasonably practicable”.
The code would give Elizabeth Denham, the UK’S Information Commissioner, powers to fine tech giants billions if they are found to have used children’s data that results in harm.
The regulations would bar Facebook, Google and other tech giants from serving children any content “detrimental to their physical or mental health or well-being”. They were designed to prevent a repeat of the case of Molly Russell, the 14-year-old who took her life after viewing self-harm images on Instagram and other sites.
It would also require platforms to safeguard children’s privacy to prevent them being groomed by paedophiles, curb “addictive” features like notifications that keep them online and restrict use of their data for commercial ends.
Baroness Kidron said: “If the Government doesn’t lay the Code in Parliament now, we will know for certain that it has capitulated to the tech lobby. For the parents and children who have been promised tough action on online harms time and again by this Government, that will be difficult to swallow.”
A Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport spokesman said: “We plan to lay the Age Appropriate Design Code as soon as reasonably practicable.”
The Children’s Charities Coalition for Internet Safety warned delaying the code would leave children in greater danger online. John Carr, the coalition’s secretary, said: “Delay past June 10 would be unconscionable. It would make it harder and more expensive to put things right later.” The Government
has been criticised for “backsliding” over Duty of Care laws, for which The Telegraph has campaigned since 2018. Molly’s father, Ian, said the Government “doesn’t have the commitment” to bring in the laws. Julian Knight, chairman of the culture select committee, said he feared the law may not come into force until 2024.
Reality TV star Bobby Norris told MPS on the pensions committee yesterday that abusive trolling is often a “hate crime” and those responsible should have their IP addresses blocked.