The UK Government proposes new online safety laws, in an Internet Safety Strategy green paper. Matt Hancock, Secretary of State at the DCMS (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport) said: “Digital technology is overwhelmingly a force for good across the world and we must always champion innovation and change for the better. At the same time I have been clear that we have to address the Wild West elements of the Internet through legislation, in a way that supports innovation. We strongly support technology companies to start up and grow, and we want to work with them to keep our citizens safe.
“People increasingly live their lives through online platforms so it’s more important than ever that people are safe and parents can have confidence they can keep their children from harm. The measures we’re taking forward today will help make sure children are protected online and balance the need for safety with the great freedoms the internet brings just as we have to strike this balance offline.”
The DCMS and Home Office will jointly work on a White Paper with other UK Government departments, to be published later this year. This will set out legislation to be brought forward to tackle legal and illegal harms, from cyberbullying to online child sexual exploitation.
