The gaping hole in new internet law

THE Online Safety Bill is set to feature in the Queen’s Speech next week.

At the moment, it aims to tackle internet content that harms users, particularly children, and deal with issues of child safety, bullying and extremist content.

But it excludes the crucial issue of online financial fraud – an omission that campaigners and the Mail believe is a serious mistake. Today we call for: ÷ The Online Safety Bill to include financial scams. ÷ Internet platforms to be made legally responsible for checking that adverts and websites are not fraudulent. ÷ Platforms to have a legal duty to take down scam adverts and websites immediately.

Bank of England governor Andrew Bailey has called for financial scams to be covered by the bill. And the City watchdog, the Financial Conduct Authority, has made a ‘clear recommendation’ to ministers for financial fraud to be included in the bill.