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Online Safety
08 September 2026
Lead MP
Lisa Nandy
Debate Type
Ministerial Statement
Tags
EconomyScience & Technology
Other Contributors: 35
At a Glance
Lisa Nandy raised concerns about online safety in the House of Commons. A government minister responded. Other MPs also contributed.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Government Statement
The Minister stated her government's commitment to be the world leader in shaping a safe, enabling, and empowering online environment for children. The Government has been working closely with Apple and Google to strengthen device-level protections for children to prevent them from taking, sharing or viewing nude images online. Despite progress, the Minister acknowledged that these companies' current proposals do not meet the crisis' scale. She cited alarming statistics, such as 9,000 child sexual abuse offences involving an online element annually, and highlighted the need for government intervention beyond protection to enable and empower. The Minister announced primary legislation to require major tech platforms to build in device-level protections for children, and to prevent children from accessing or sharing nudity on apps. She committed to making Britain the first country to implement such measures, urging tech companies to lead rather than lag. The statement emphasised the government's determination to act decisively to protect children online.
Rebecca Paul
Lab
Brent Central
Question
The MP welcomed the statement and requested clarity on the timetable for introducing primary legislation. She also inquired about reassessment criteria and the scope of device-level protection.
Minister reply
The Minister responded by confirming the urgent need for legislation, but did not provide a specific timetable. She stated that reassessment would be conducted based on companies' progress, and that protections would aim to apply to both new and existing devices, with software updates to be pushed to older devices wherever possible.
Rebecca Pow
Con
Ceredigion
Question
Rebecca Pow thanked the Secretary of State for the statement and welcomed the device-level protections, particularly the prevention of nude images. She asked for more details on the Government's plans, including a timetable for legislation and criteria for sufficient progress from tech companies. She also inquired about the applicability of these measures to existing devices and the broader vision of shaping technology for good. She expressed concern about the social media ban for under-16s and sought confirmation that it remains on track.
Minister reply
Lisa Nandy thanked Rebecca Pow for her engagement and addressed her concerns, committing to begin working on legislation without delay. She noted the need for a timetable due to the pioneering nature of the legislation. The Minister confirmed the intent to introduce regulations by the end of 2023 and the ban coming into effect in 2027. She also discussed the ongoing work on device-level protections and the need for tech companies to meet their social and moral obligations.
Liz Kendall
Lab
Leicester West
Question
Liz Kendall welcomed the announcement and praised the Government for taking action on device-level protections. She asked for more details on the timetable for other proposals, including measures on AI chatbots, overnight curfews, and bans on doomscrolling for older children. She also inquired about the work offline to ensure a safer and better place for children.
Minister reply
Lisa Nandy thanked Liz Kendall for her support and confirmed the intent to introduce regulations by the end of 2023 and the ban coming into effect in 2027. She committed to providing a timetable for other proposals and expressed the Government's intent to move quickly on these measures without delay.
Anna Sabine
Lib Dem
Frome and East Somerset
Question
Anna Sabine welcomed the Minister's announcement but sought reassurance that the legislation would be developed regardless of the action taken by tech companies. She also raised concerns about privacy and the need for effective technology, and suggested the need for cross-party discussions on end-to-end encrypted services.
Minister reply
Lisa Nandy confirmed that the legislation would be developed regardless of the action taken by tech companies. She emphasised that privacy concerns would be addressed and that the Government would not ignore or sideline them. She also welcomed cross-party discussions on end-to-end encrypted services.
Jess Phillips
Lab
Birmingham, Yardley
Question
Jess Phillips praised the Minister for the statement and the previous one, stressing the importance of the 'take' element to prevent children from being abused and groomed. She also called for the Minister to work with partners across the world to ensure that while the UK leads, it is not standing alone.
Minister reply
Lisa Nandy thanked Jess Phillips for her support and acknowledged the importance of working with partners across the world to keep children safe. She noted that many Governments are now acting more decisively and that there is a clear role for active, empowering Governments in this space.
Gosport
Question
Caroline Dinenage welcomed the announcement and asked how compliance with the policy would be monitored and what sanctions would be available to address non-compliance. She noted Ofcom’s sluggish implementation of the Online Safety Act 2023.
Minister reply
Lisa Nandy thanked Caroline Dinenage for her work on the issue and assured her that the Government would continue to press companies to act with urgency. She noted that the Government would look at making and selling of devices that do not have technology enabled to prevent children from taking and sharing nude images, and would work to close every loophole.
Question
Natasha Irons thanked the Secretary of State for the major step forward but emphasised the need for urgency, given the risk to young people every single day.
Minister reply
Lisa Nandy acknowledged the need for urgency and expressed her desire to bring back the sense that we are all in this together. She noted that it should not be in a position where a Secretary of State has to announce legislation to uphold responsibilities to children but pledged to do so if necessary.
Jeremy Wright
Con
Kenilworth and Southam
Question
Jeremy Wright welcomed the intent set out by the Secretary of State and the urgency with which she will require companies to act. He expressed concern about the compatibility of the individual measures with the responsibilities of companies under the Online Safety Act.
Minister reply
Lisa Nandy offered to meet Jeremy Wright to discuss the compatibility of the individual measures with the responsibilities of companies under the Online Safety Act in more detail.
Tahir Ali
Lab
Poplar and Limehouse
Question
Children are being exposed to violent and harmful content online, and this trend is worsening. Ofcom's research shows that nearly a quarter of 11 to 17-year-olds have seen violent content in just four weeks, and nearly three-quarters have seen harmful content. The Act's child safety duties have not mitigated this trend. What can the government do to urgently address this issue?
Minister reply
The minister agrees with the concern and mentions that they are also looking at the issue of chatbots and strengthening the law to protect children better from various forms of exposure.
Vikki Slade
Con
Blackpool North and Cleveleys
Question
What more can the government do to hold tech companies accountable for posts that put the safety of children and adults at risk through doxxing, as evidenced by recent disturbing posts on Meta and X?
Minister reply
The minister mentions initial discussions with tech companies about the issue of doxxing and the campaign by the Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers. The government is concerned and will work with the MP to address the issue further.
Chris Kane
Lab
Bootle
Question
The MP places on record the appreciation for the dignified leadership shown by the parents and family of his constituent Murray Dowey on the issue of online safety. What ongoing conversations will the Secretary of State have with tech companies to tackle this issue with the same speed of innovation they show for profit?
Minister reply
The minister pays tribute to the constituent's family and mentions ongoing discussions with tech companies. She emphasises the need for faster progress and the government's willingness to step up.
Ashley Fox
Con
Croydon South
Question
Children are facing unacceptable levels of sexual harm online. How will the Secretary of State ensure that children using devices with older operating systems are fully protected?
Minister reply
The minister mentions that the department is discussing this issue and that officials are exploring solutions. She mentions the need to address the issue from multiple angles to close loopholes, including around the sharing of nude images.
Alex McIntyre
Lab
Newham Westside
Question
The MP can understand the anxiety that parents have about keeping their children safe online. Will the Secretary of State reassure the House that she will not accept any argument that it is too expensive or too difficult to stop children from being able to take nude images and send them to people?
Minister reply
The minister strongly supports the MP's sentiment and mentions the need for innovation and taking steps to address the issue as the technology develops.
Kirsty Blackman
SNP
Aberdeen North
Question
The MP has raised the issue of self-generated images and livestreaming for more than four years. She asks for reassurance that children’s accounts will be banned from livestreaming regardless of whether it involves nude images, as livestreaming can be used for blackmail or abuse.
Minister reply
The minister thanks the MP for her long-standing campaigning on the issue and commits to looking at the issue seriously. She will ask her officials to come back to her on it and will reach out to the MP to have a proper conversation.
Tom Collins
Lab
West Bromwich East
Question
The MP welcomes the Secretary of State's statement and raises the issue of a global industry for livestreamed abuse material from the Philippines, where the UK is the second largest consumer. The MP asks if the Secretary of State will meet him to discuss a broader approach and a product safety approach.
Minister reply
The minister is happy to meet the MP to discuss the issue. She mentions the need to address the issue from every angle, including traditional law enforcement.
Julian Lewis
Con
New Forest East
Question
The MP welcomes the statement and asks how the highly efficient age assurance system works, particularly regarding the potential for parents to allow their children to use their phones under their identity.
Minister reply
The minister mentions that they are not envisaging imposing penalties on parents but acknowledges that there will be people who find ways to get around the safeguards. The minister explains that the new systems require someone to have a form of ID to prove their age.
Andrew Lewin
Lab
Rotherham
Question
The MP commends the Minister for her decision to leave Elon Musk's X platform and asks if she will make a case at the Cabinet table for not associating with a platform that amplifies extremist content.
Minister reply
The Minister responds that this is a personal decision and that Members of the House should be free to decide how and where they communicate, but for her part, she did not want to encourage more people to a site that has become more of a force for harm than for good.
Yeovil
Question
The MP welcomes the Secretary of State’s announcements and questions the clarity of the Government's approach to banning sexualised AI chatbots for under-18s and enforcing the ban.
Minister reply
The Minister acknowledges the complexity of the issue and the need to strengthen the approach due to recent developments where an AI system escaped its sandbox and caused damage. She expresses a commitment to resolving the major gap in the child safety protection system.
Emily Darlington
Lab
Bolton South East
Question
The MP calls for technology companies to turn on existing software in their operating systems to protect children from harmful content, urging the Secretary of State to introduce legislation within the year if companies do not comply quickly.
Minister reply
The Minister supports the urgency and calls for moving as fast as possible, promising not to delay unnecessarily and supporting the call for technology companies to act.
Carla Lockhart
Con
Erewash
Question
The MP asks if today’s announcement will cover in-game adverts, raising concerns about highly sexualised images popping up in children’s games.
Minister reply
The Minister commits to looking at the issue and taking appropriate action to protect children from such images.
Jonathan Brash
Con
Hartlepool
Question
The MP finds it incredible that technology companies were asked to put software in place to protect against child sexual abuse and asks if it would be better to legislate straightaway.
Minister reply
The Minister supports the need for legislation and expresses the need to have the same level of expectation for the online world as the offline world.
Lisa Smart
Con
Bolton South East
Question
The MP raises concerns about abuse perpetrators who are themselves children and asks what the Secretary of State is doing with colleagues to support schools and families.
Minister reply
The Minister commends actions taken on apps like Grok and expresses the need for better support for schools, parents, and families to protect children from becoming victims or perpetrators.
Sarah Smith
Lab
Hyndburn
Question
The MP welcomes the Secretary of State’s statement and asks to meet to discuss the importance of trying to protect victims from tragedy trolling.
Minister reply
The Minister offers a meeting to discuss the issue and highlights the importance of tackling misinformation and disinformation, especially for young people.
Ayoub Khan
Lab
Weaver Vale
Question
The MP questions the robustness of social media app complaints procedures and asks what steps the Government can take to ensure providers follow their processes.
Minister reply
The Minister is happy to pick up the example given and discuss it with the social media companies directly.
Luke Myer
Con
Hastings and Rye
Question
The MP asks about the Government's plans to address the use of social media disinformation by hostile states.
Minister reply
The Minister outlines measures including the development of gov.uk, the local news strategy, and the BBC charter review to address misinformation and disinformation.
Iqbal Mohamed
Lab
Slough
Question
The MP urges the Secretary of State to look at hardware-level protection and asks about pursuing robust enforcement against companies like Meta.
Minister reply
The Minister acknowledges the need for robust enforcement and the importance of ensuring that legislation is effective through enforcement.
Luke Charters
Con
Wansbeck
Question
As the youngest parent in the House, I welcome the Secretary of State's leadership and that of the Prime Minister. Will she look at AI-enabled smart glasses and the content from them that is being put online? Will she also look at loopholes in VPN usage, particularly with app-based browsers?
Minister reply
I have discussed issues around VPNs with officials; device-level controls are part of the solution but not the whole answer. I will also look at the issue of smart glasses as raised by my hon. Friend.
Peter Swallow
Con
Bracknell
Question
Parents in Bracknell Forest express anxiety about their children's online exposure and feel powerless. Today's statement makes it clear that the Government believes the power to act lies with tech companies, and they should fix their platforms to ensure children's safety.
Minister reply
I support my hon. Friend and agree that tech companies need to do more. We will also take action to improve people's lives, and it is not about being powerless; we were elected to do this and will fulfill that promise.
Amanda Martin
Lab
Portsmouth North
Question
I welcome the announcement but the focus should be on the adults who groom and coerce children online rather than on what young people are doing. What work is her Department and others doing with tech companies to identify and disrupt adults targeting children?
Minister reply
My hon. Friend is right, and I am working closely with the Home Secretary to address the issue from all angles and hold accountable all responsible parties.
Kevin McKenna
Lab
West Renfrewshire
Question
I welcome the statement and the work of predecessors. However, we lack sovereign capability in developing our own tech, making us vulnerable to foreign politics. What is she doing to work across Government to ensure Britain gets what it wants from tech companies, not what other countries want?
Minister reply
We reserve the right to take our own view on technology, especially for children's safety. We are developing new forms of technology and having sovereign capability. I discussed this with the Business Secretary and the AI Minister this morning.
Darren Paffey
Lab
Newcastle upon Tyne East
Question
I thank and commend the Government’s world-leading action. Does she agree that we will look back and wonder how we let tech companies hijack children's attention and safety for so long? What is happening across Government and with regulators to ensure tech companies and device producers play their part in keeping children safe?
Minister reply
We are living through a revolution in the way we interact and with Government, and it is time for Governments to catch up. We are on the front foot, helping to shape the society we want and are working with our friends and allies around the world to form a global consensus.
Ben Coleman
Lab
Stockton South
Question
I welcome the statement and encourage my right hon. Friend to work closely with our friends in the European Union who have similar aims to protect their children, giving us more clout in negotiations.
Minister reply
My hon. Friend is correct. We want to have a much closer relationship with our closest friends and neighbours across Europe and are working with other like-minded countries to move in step.
Harlow
Question
Young people and parents in my constituency do not believe tech companies are taking their responsibilities seriously. Can we make it clear to tech companies that it is their responsibility to ensure underage people cannot use their software and sites?
Minister reply
I thank my hon. Friend and agree that the views of his constituents are mirrored across the country. We are stepping up to take necessary action, whether through support, advice, training, or reforms and measures outlined today.
Tom Hayes
Lab
Chesterfield
Question
Democracies face a choice between allowing the online world to be a wild west or stepping in. I welcome the Government’s decision to regulate tech titans that have put profit before protection. Families in my constituency affected by traumas online would welcome the chance to meet the Secretary of State to share their experiences and help shape legislation.
Minister reply
Yes, it would be a privilege to meet them. I have given a commitment to do everything in my power to stop another family experiencing what they have gone through. I would be very happy to meet my hon. Friend and his constituents.
Shadow Comment
Rebecca Paul
Shadow Comment
The Shadow welcomed the Minister's statement but requested more detail on the plans, including a timetable for introducing primary legislation. She questioned the criteria for reassessing the necessity of legislation if companies make progress and sought clarity on whether protections would apply to new and existing devices. The Shadow also expressed interest in the Government's role in shaping technology for good and inquired about the status of restrictions on social media for under-16s. She praised the common ground across the House and looked forward to constructive work towards stronger protections for children and responsibilities for tech companies.
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