I will not accept a Wild West web where abuse and exploitation thrive

The benefits that the internet has afforded humanity have been immeasurable. Instant communication, access to information, and the emergence of an online economy have vastly enriched the lives of almost every person on earth.

Above all, the internet is a triumph of market forces – a showcase of what tech firms and businesses can achieve if given the creative freedom to develop and innovate. This Government will always uphold that freedom, and will do everything in our power to enhance the UK’S reputation for cutting-edge internet technology.

For all these commercial freedoms, though, we cannot ignore the human cost of the internet. It is a window onto the world, but it also invites the world onto the phone in your child’s pocket or the computer in their bedroom. The sad reality is that the anonymity of the internet has created a dark and twisted side to the online world.

The era of self-regulation of the internet is coming to an end.

Social media companies, tech firms and businesses who operate online have a responsibility – a duty of care – to ensure that users, specifically the most vulnerable, are protected on their platforms.

Time and again they have been given the chance to do all they can to safeguard users. In some cases, they have failed.

In other cases they implement end-to-end encryption that precludes access to content in all circumstances. This places the tools necessary to protect their users beyond their own reach so that, rather than protecting the vulnerable, they create havens for criminals and predators.

As Home Secretary my number one job is to keep people safe. This is just as important in the virtual world as offline. This is a world where sick predators can groom a child from behind a keyboard, where terrorists can encourage others to perform acts of unimaginable evil, and thugs can incite violence and inspire crime.

And this is on top of a tide of cyber bullying, trolling and content that advocates self-harm.

Readers will have been struck by the heart-breaking case of Molly Russell, who took her own life after watching self-harm videos on Instagram. Her family have spoken movingly about the need for tech firms to do more. But if those companies will not accept the responsibility, the Government will step in. I will not accept a Wild West web where these types of harms can fester and thrive.

It comes as no surprise that children now spend more time online than watching television. With nearly 80 per cent of young people saying they have experienced a harm while browsing online, regulating this space is not just logical but necessary.

I would like to thank The Telegraph for its trailblazing Duty of Care campaign to keep children safe, and the other organisations that have supported our public consultation on online harms. This Government has listened to the views of Telegraph readers, industry, charities and parents and we have vowed to make the UK the safest place in the world to be online.

Having previously announced plans to introduce a new statutory duty of care backed up by a powerful and dynamic independent regulator, yesterday, the Culture Secretary and I announced that Ofcom will be the new independent online harms regulator.

Soon, we will be setting out the

‘If tech companies will not accept responsibility, the Government will step in’

tough enforcement tools Ofcom will have at its disposal to sanction those who do not put systems in place to protect their users. Ofcom will have teeth when it comes to holding tech companies to account.

Yet these powers come with an unwavering commitment that Ofcom will also have a responsibility to protect users’ rights online, including freedom of expression. This right is the cornerstone of our society, and we have set out carefully in our interim consultation response how the regulation will not encroach on this fundamental right.

This is just one of the measures that the Government is taking to make the UK the safest place to be online. We continue to work with tech companies to address concerns over end-to-end encryption, and are investing in law enforcement and new capabilities to protect children.

Everyone has the right to stay safe online, and to live without fear of abuse or exploitation.

If tech companies abdicate this responsibility, then it is up to the Government to protect our citizens from harm.