UK government accused of ‘watering down’ online safety bill
The UK government has dropped measures to ban "legal but harmful" web content, in what campaigners called a "watering down" of the Online Safety Bill that is "very hard to understand".
Removing the restrictions marks a more" common-sense" approach as they risked an" erosion of free speech ", the Culture Secretary said. Michelle Don el an also argued the axed measures had been an" anchor" stalling the bill, which has been subject to repeated delays.
The ditching of "legal but harmful" duties mark saw in for free speech proponents including Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch, who claimed they would "legislate for hurt feelings", but the move faces criticism from other corners of the Tory party.
Ms Donelan's predecessor Nadine Dorries warned that women would "kick off "about dropping the measures.
The former culture secretary, who championed the bill in its previous form, cited the case of Molly Russell, 14, who killed herself after viewing self-harm content online.
Molly's father Ian Russell said the changes to the bill pointed to a" watering down" of the legislation, as young people who are "likely to find away around" age verification checks may still be exposed to "legal but harmful" material.
"This is the type of content that sapped the life force out of molly and that stopped her wanting to live any more," he said.
Despite his concerns, he said what is "most important now is that the bill continues to progress at pace so that it is passed into law next year".
"This is vital as it could quite literally save lives," he said.
Mr Russell earlier said the revisions to the legislation were "very hard to understand".
Ms Don elans aid the government is" in essence" introducing" legal but harmful for children" through other provisions in the bill.
She said protections for children have been strengthened and it would be a" gross misrepresentation"to argue otherwise.
"Nothing is getting watered down or taken out when it comes to children," she told Today.
"The legal but harmful aspect was pertaining to adults. Content that is harmful or could hurt children that is not illegal will still be removed under this version of the bill.
"So the content that Molly Russell saw will not be allowed as a result of this bill."