Hampshire PCC calls for child safety in the digital age as bill passed
In a resounding move towards safeguarding children in the digital age, the Online Safety Bill has passed, marking a significant milestone in online protection. Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) for Hampshire & Isle of Wight, Donna Jones, a vocal advocate for child safety, has urged tech companies to make child safety their utmost priority, emphasising the gravity of the issue.
The Online Safety Bill adopts a zero-tolerance approach, legally obligating social media platforms to take responsibility for the content they host. This mandates the swift removal of illegal content or its prevention from appearing in the first place. The legislation acknowledges the importance of holding online platforms accountable for the content circulating on their services, especially when it pertains to children’s safety.
However, the passage of the bill has not been without its challenges. Technology experts and prominent child abuse charities have voiced concerns regarding the potential misuse of end-to-end encryption in private messages to conceal child abuse. This issue highlights the delicate balance between privacy and child safety that policymakers must navigate.
In response to these concerns, Commissioner Donna Jones stated, “Protecting children and vulnerable people is the first job of any government. The new Online Safety Bill was passed on Tuesday this week, meaning it is now law. I’m pleased to have worked with the government on the creation of this new law but acknowledge that this is just the start.”
She continued, “The National Crime Agency has mapped there are over 700,000 individuals accessing and viewing indecent images of children online. That’s one in 86 people in this country. This is a huge risk and one which police forces across the country are working hard to combat. The safety of our children online must come above any privacy concerns for users, and we must see social media platforms stepping up to implement safeguards at every opportunity.”
PCC Donna Jones’ call for tech companies to prioritise child safety in the online sphere resonates with the urgent need to protect children from harm. As the Online Safety Bill becomes law, it marks the beginning of a new era in online accountability and safety, but the challenges posed by encryption and privacy concerns remain at the forefront of this ongoing battle to protect the vulnerable in our digital world.
SOnews.uk