Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Online Harms

Monday 7 June 2021 · 3 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 3 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Ministerial discussions on tackling online harms are ongoing, involving Cabinet colleagues.
  • The Home Office is working on the online safety Bill to address online harms, including age verification for legal pornography.
  • Conor McGinn questioned the effectiveness and urgency of the online safety Bill in addressing dangerous online activities.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Fleur Anderson Lab Putney
Crime & Law Enforcement Culture, Media & Sport
Context

The ease with which primary school-aged children can access legal but extreme pornography is raising concerns about the impact on their understanding of healthy relationships.

Question

What recent discussions she has had with Cabinet colleagues on tackling online harms. The ease with which even primary school-aged children can access extreme but legal pornography is frightening, and it is warping a whole generation's view of healthy sexual relationships. Will the Minister assure me that the longstanding issue of age verification for legal pornography will finally be addressed in the online safety Bill?

Answer from Victoria Atkins

The Home Office is working across Government to tackle online harms though the online safety Bill and other measures. Although the draft Bill will be scrutinised by Parliament, the Government continue to work nationally and internationally to tackle online harms, including through the G7 and Five Country Governments. This issue concerns many Members across the House, and it has been voiced by many parents across the country. We must consider not just the online safety Bill, but the wider question of education and ensuring that our children are taught what is a healthy relationship and what is not.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not commit to addressing age verification for legal pornography in the online safety Bill specifically

How: We Must Consider Not Just The Online Safety Bill, But The Wider Question Of Education

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Q2 Fleur Anderson Lab Putney
Culture, Media & Sport
Context

The ease with which primary school-aged children can access legal but extreme pornography is raising concerns about the impact on their understanding of healthy relationships.

Question

Will the Minister assure me that the longstanding issue of age verification for legal pornography will finally be addressed in the online safety Bill?

Answer from Victoria Atkins

This issue concerns many Members across the House, and it has been voiced by many parents across the country. We must consider not just the online safety Bill, but the wider question of education and ensuring that our children are taught what is a healthy relationship and what is not. The hon. Lady will know the massive progress made by the Domestic Abuse Act 2021, which set out clear parameters regarding the so-called rough sex defence as well as non-fatal strangulation.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not commit to addressing age verification for legal pornography in the online safety Bill specifically

How: We Must Consider Not Just The Online Safety Bill, But The Wider Question Of Education

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Q3 Conor McGinn Lab
Crime & Law Enforcement Culture, Media & Sport
Context

The director general of MI5 has raised concerns about Facebook's introduction of end-to-end encryption blocking security and intelligence services from monitoring suspects.

Question

Despite what the Minister said, the online safety Bill is very vague—in fact, some might say it is a bit wishy-washy—when it comes to measures to counter these dangerous activities, so will she commit today to treating this matter with the seriousness and urgency that it requires and that Ken McCallum has demanded?

Answer from Victoria Atkins

I hope that the hon. Gentleman understands the seriousness with which the Home Secretary, and also the Prime Minister and the Government, take such matters. I do not agree with his description of the online safety Bill. Indeed, he will note the confidence with which the Government have put it forward as a draft Bill in order to allow Parliament to scrutinise it. On Facebook and its activities, it should be in no doubt that under the new Bill as it stands at the moment, it will be held to account for its activities.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not commit to treating end-to-end encryption issues with the seriousness and urgency demanded by MI5's director general

How: I Do Not Agree With His Description Of The Online Safety Bill

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