THE Government proudly announced its revised Online Safety Bill yesterday, in terms that seemed designed to satisfy everybody. As the headline of the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Spor…
It was quite another to try to use the blunt instrument of the law to make companies censor posts that are legal, just because some might find them offensive or upsetting.It never seems to occur to the control freaks of thethat the British public — or “users and consumers” — might have a vested interest in defending our society’s bedrock principle of free speech.
With the fines of Ofcom hanging over their heads, it is not hard to imagine the ban-happy fact-checkers and algorithms deployed by risk-averse Big Tech billionaires taking the safe option to “censor first, ask questions later”. However, the unanswered question remains: How are platforms to define what is “legal but harmful” without infringing our freedom of speech?
United Kingdom Latest News, United Kingdom Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Online Safety Bill to make controlling or coercive behaviour on social media a criminal offenceThe Online Safety Bill returns to parliament this week and is set to include a new criminal offence of coercive or controlling behaviour.
Read more »
Online Safety Bill might not be too little, but it is certainly too lateIs 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?
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 »
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 »