Celebrities show support for Online Safety Bill

Famous faces are to meet the technology secretary today to discuss the new Online Safety Bill.

Those attending include Georgia Kousoulou, Emily Clarkson, Georgia Harrison and Fara Williams, who have been campaigning for safer internet over the past few years.

Attendees are set to discuss the impact online abuse has had on them and the need to pass new laws to tackle it permanently for future generations, and protect children and mental health. The bill aims to protect children from harmful and illegal content, such as terrorism, bullying, pornography, the promotion of self-harm and eating disorders and online sexual exploitation and abuse.

The bill is intended to tackle criminal activity online with platforms forced to quickly remove terrorist material or child sexual abuse and exploitation once they are alerted to its presence and will not be allowed to promote it in their algorithms.

The bill also aims to increase the transparency and accountability of online platforms and ensure they keep their promises to their users.

Technology secretary Michelle Donelan said: "The message from government and these brave campaigners is clear. Enough is enough – it’s time to pass our online safety law and crack down on the sick and cowardly trolls who prowl out of sight online. We stand shoulder to shoulder in our determination to protect our children and other vulnerable groups from a host of vile content that is currently all too easy for them to access."

Former The Only Way is Essex star Georgia Kousoulou said: "Like any mum, I want my son to grow up feeling safe. These new internet safety laws are so important and will make sure our kids are protected from cyberbullying and illegal content they shouldn’t be seeing."

NSPCC chief executive, Sir Peter Wanless, said: "The Online Safety Bill is a landmark piece of legislation and will become a central pillar of the child protection framework in the UK. The Government and politicians of all sides have worked tirelessly with survivors of abuse, bereaved families and civil society to ensure the legislation results in a much safer online world for children.

"We are tantalisingly close to passing the Bill, so its real-world impact can begin. Once MPs and parliamentarians have finished their work, it is over to tech companies to work with the regulator Ofcom and child protection experts to make sure their products and services do not put children at risk any longer."

Image by Cyn Yoder from Pixabay