Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Child Protection Online

Thursday 20 October 2022 · 8 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 2 Partly answered 6 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The inquest into Molly Russell's death highlights the need to protect children and young people as the top priority of the Online Safety Bill.
  • The Minister committed to applying urgency not only to passing the Online Safety Bill but also to ensuring it works effectively once enacted.
  • Discussions with the Department for Education are ongoing to strengthen media literacy functions under the Online Safety Bill.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Elliot Colburn
Culture, Media & Sport Children & Families
Context

The question is prompted by the tragic case of Molly Russell, whose death highlights the need to protect children online. The Online Safety Bill aims to address this priority.

Question

What steps her Department is taking to protect people online?

Answer from Michelle Donelan

The inquest into Molly Russell's tragic death further highlights that the No. 1 priority of the Online Safety Bill has to be protecting children and young people. I commit to strengthening that aspect and getting it back to this House imminently.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not address specific steps taken by her department, only committed to a general goal

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Q2 Jeremy Wright Con Kenilworth and Southam
Parliamentary Procedure
Context

Families have been waiting for the Bill to progress, and once passed, a series of actions are required from Ofcom and the Government to bring this regime into force.

Question

Will she apply a similar sense of urgency to what will happen once the Bill has passed?

Answer from Michelle Donelan

My right hon. and learned Friend has been a huge advocate of this Bill, on which he has worked personally. He is absolutely right that it is not just about getting the Bill through this place and the other place; it is also about ensuring the Bill works on the ground and makes a tangible difference in protecting children and young people, day in and day out. I will commit to looking at this and ensuring that we go as fast as possible.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide specific timeline or actions for implementation

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Q3 Elliot Colburn
Culture, Media & Sport
Context

A group of mums in Carshalton and Wallington brought to the MP's attention cases where their children accessed illegal drugs through social media platforms like Instagram and Snapchat, resulting in overdose deaths.

Question

Can my right hon. Friend assure me that the Online Safety Bill will provide the protections they need?

Answer from Michelle Donelan

I completely concur with my hon. Friend, who is a fantastic advocate for his constituents. Selling illegal drugs is a priority illegal offence in the Online Safety Bill. Platforms will need not only to take content down, but to take proactive steps to prevent drug dealers from abusing their services. If platforms do not remove this content quickly, they will face tough enforcement measures, including huge fines, and the same goes for any other illegal content.

Answered
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Q4 Clive Efford Lab Eltham and Chislehurst
Culture, Media & Sport Children & Families
Context

The coroner highlighted the effect of harmful algorithms that direct harmful content towards Molly Russell, questioning whether the companies see this as a problem.

Question

Will the Minister undertake specifically to look into that issue?

Answer from Michelle Donelan

My Ministers and I have been looking at this area. One fundamental problem relates to the accountability of these companies and who is ultimately responsible for these algorithms. We have been looking at that and I look forward to updating the House as soon as we bring the Bill back.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not commit to immediate investigation or timeline, only future update

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Q5 Damian Hinds Con East Hampshire
Safeguarding & DBS
Context

Research from Ofcom showed that children routinely sign up for social media before the minimum age of 13, leading to issues with age verification and protection measures.

Question

How can we ensure that protections meant to protect children do in fact protect them?

Answer from Michelle Donelan

I know that my right hon. Friend is passionate about this Bill and has played a leading role in helping to shape it to this point. I agree that unless social media platforms manage to assess the age of their users, they will fall foul of the Bill. Let us face it: for too long social media companies have got away scot-free. That will end with this Bill, because we will put in place protections for children that will be even stronger.

Answered
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Q6 Jim Shannon DUP Strangford
Education Culture, Media & Sport
Context

Recent studies show that online grooming victims are predominantly girls, prompting questions about the need for better awareness through education.

Question

What discussions has she had with the Department for Education?

Answer from Michelle Donelan

My ministerial team and I, as well as the Department, work closely with the Department for Education. Media literacy is of course essential, and the Online Safety Bill will strengthen Ofcom's media literacy functions. I look forward to further discussions about this with that Department.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide specific details or timeline of current discussions

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Q7 Lucy Powell Labour (Co-op) Manchester Central
Culture, Media & Sport
Context

Molly Russell's death highlighted the need for regulation of social media, with engagement algorithms pushing harmful content to users. The Online Safety Bill was delayed and is now a priority.

Question

I welcome the new Secretary of State to her post. Molly Russell's death shows the importance of regulating social media without delay as these delays cost lives. Does she accept that these delays are costing lives? Will she work with me to get this Bill on the statute book as soon as possible?

Answer from Michelle Donelan

I am delighted to meet the hon. Member and I share her commitment to protecting children. The Online Safety Bill is my No. 1 priority, and it will be brought back very soon—a commitment also given to Ian Russell.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific timeline for bringing the bill back was not provided

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Q8 Lucy Powell Labour (Co-op) Manchester Central
Culture, Media & Sport Children & Families
Context

The previous Secretary of State committed to the challenging task of getting the Online Safety Bill through despite vested interests, but the current Secretary of State is rewriting it, causing concern for further delays.

Question

I welcome the new Secretary of State's commitment. The previous Secretary of State had a difficult task with vested interests and internal differences. However, rewriting the bill may cause more delay and disagreement. Does she agree that focusing on duty of care principles and regulating business models, algorithms and their impact is the best way forward?

Answer from Michelle Donelan

My intention is not to appease everybody; it is to bring the Bill back as soon as possible and prioritize protecting children from harmful content.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific principles of duty of care and regulation were not addressed

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