Is Michelle Donelan's revision of the bill, which removes rules concerning 'legal but harmful' content, in fact an improvement on 'eye-watering potency' or does it leave individuals with no protection?
This was a new category created especially for the bill, which meant that things that it would be legal to say to someone's face would no longer be permissible online, as long as they caused someone harm.
Firms such as Facebook and Twitter were suddenly going to find policing this vague concept, with large fines if they failed to obey. How will that work? How will they tell the difference between an 18-year-old, who needs to be protected, and a 19-year-old, who apparently does not? What will the punishment be if they fail to get it right?Then there's the question of how harm will be defined. As things stand, MPs will create a list of things they believe are harmful, which the platforms will have to interpret. This will not be smooth sailing.
The new bill leaves many areas untouched. But if it is passed - and given the strength of feeling in the Lords that is far from certain - then it will be a sweeping, complicated law of immense significance.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Government denies weakening Online Safety BillNew law will not require removal of 'legal but harmful' content, which critics said risked free speech.
Read more »
i morning briefing: Can the Online Safety Bill really protect children?📨 i morning briefing: Can the Online Safety Bill really protect children? 📬 Sign up to our Early Edition newsletter here ⬇️
Read more »
Why changes to the Government's Online Safety Bill are controversialMeasures which would have forced big technology platforms to remove “legal but harmful” material have been axed from the Online Safety Bill ⬇️ emsferg explains
Read more »
Why the Online Safety Bill is proving so controversialWe look at the rocky path the legislation to protect people online has taken - and where it will go next.
Read more »
Plan to make big tech remove harmful content axedMinister denies weakening the Online Safety Bill after dropping the 'legal but harmful' material measures.
Read more »