Duty of care law ‘must tackle online extremism’

NEW duty of care laws must address extremism on the internet, says the head of the Government commission for countering extremism.

Sara Khan said it would be a “missed opportunity” if the proposed legislation failed to tackle “horrific” extremist content online.

Her comments follow evidence uncovered by The Daily Telegraph that Britain First used the encrypted messaging app, Telegram, to promote its far-right agenda before last weekend’s violence in central London.

Ms Khan added: “Extremism has been profoundly changed by the internet. When groups such as Britain First are kicked off mainstream social media platforms such as Facebook, they simply

‘The Online Harms Bill must ensure it addresses the horrific content that is available online’

go on to smaller platforms such as Telegram and continue their activity.

“The Online Harms Bill must ensure it addresses the horrific extremist content that is easily accessible online, otherwise it will be a missed opportunity to help make a real difference.”

Prior to the protests in the capital, Paul Golding, the leader of Britain First, boasted to his supporters: “We have found a brilliant and unassailable home… on Telegram. It’s great to be able to say what we want and speak the truth without censorship.”

He urged his supporters to protect the statues from the “supremacist, racist” Black Lives Matter movement “that has sprung up supported by the media”.

Golding was found guilty of an offence under the Terrorism Act last month after refusing to give police access to his mobile phone on his return from a trip to the Kremlin in Oct 2019. He received a conditional discharge.