Scams must be covered in Online Safety Bill, say MPS

Websites should be forced to treat online fraud as seriously as terrorism and prevent scams from appearing, a group of MPS and peers has said.

It’s one of the recommendations made by the parliamentary committee scrutinising the landmark Online Safety Bill, which the Government hopes to make law in 2022.

The committee said scams such as fake financial adverts should be classed as ‘priority illegal content’, meaning sites would be required to stop them appearing in the first place.

It also recommended that porn websites must demonstrate what they’re doing to stop under-18s accessing their content.

Damian Collins, chairman of the joint committee issuing the report, said that “for too long, big tech has got away with being the land of the lawless”.

He added: “A lack of regulation online has left too many people vulnerable to abuse, fraud, violence and in some cases even loss of life.”

Other recommendations include making it illegal to send unsolicited sexually explicit photos to someone (known as ‘cyberflashing’), and abusing (‘trolling’) people on the basis of gender, disability or race.

The Committee also wants to outlaw content that promotes self-harm, and deliberately sending flashing images to people with epilepsy with the intention of triggering a seizure.

In addition it called for Ofcom, which will become the tech regulator, to be given more powers to investigate and fine tech companies.

Digital Secretary Nadine Dorries said the Government will incorporate the recommendations “where we feel the bill can be strengthened further to make Britain the safest place to go online, while protecting free speech”.