Commons Sense

House of Commons · Westminster Hall

Online Anonymity — [Esther McVey in the Chair]

13 January 2021 · 2 other contributors · 8,167 words

Opened by Siobhan Baillie Con Stroud

Responding minister: Caroline Dinenage

Culture, Media & Sport

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Siobhan Baillie raised concerns about online anonymity — [esther mcvey in the chair] in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.

Key points

  • The MP is concerned about the negative impacts of online anonymity, including hate speech, misinformation, bullying, and misogyny.
  • The MP cites a report indicating adults spend an average of 4.2 hours daily online, with children spending even more time on their screens.
  • The Minister acknowledges that anonymous abuse online has risen due to increased reliance on digital platforms during the pandemic.

Key requests to Government

The lead MP asks the Government to address anonymity fully when considering online harms legislation. She suggests that proper consultation is necessary and urges the debate on the Law Commission's proposals regarding criminal law provisions that apply to individuals engaged in abusive behavior online.

How the debate unfolded

MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.

Opened the debate

Siobhan Baillie Con Stroud

The MP is concerned about the negative impacts of online anonymity on society, including hate speech, misinformation, bullying, and misogyny. She cites a report indicating that adults spend an average of 4.2 hours daily online, with children spending even more time on their screens. During the pandemic, screen time has likely increased further, causing many to feel less confident about going online due to concerns over safety and credibility of information. The MP highlights specific examples such as cyberbullying affecting children during lockdowns, political disinformation campaigns undermining democratic processes, and personal experiences of abuse directed at her for being a mother while serving as an MP.

Other contributors (2)
  • Chi Onwurah Lab Newcastle upon Tyne Central and West

    Cited the challenge of online anonymity for bullying and negative self-perception among young people, highlighted the impact on MPs and constituents, and advocated for a balance between protecting whistleblowers and preventing abuse. Proposed measures such as 'know your customer' checks and identity verification requirements to increase friction against cyber-crime and abuse. Asked the Minister to clarify whether exceptions to the online harms legislation would be enabled through trade deals with the US, and summarised that online anonymity is not currently directly addressed in the proposed legislation but could be if there was thought to be sufficient reason.

  • Justin Madders Lab Ellesmere Port and Bromborough

    Madders expressed concerns about the abuse and harassment prevalent on online platforms, particularly Twitter. He highlighted a statistic that 47% of teenagers had seen something they wished they had not during the first lockdown. Madders noted that while he uses Twitter to communicate quickly with a wide audience, it also has downsides due to its lack of regulation and norms, leading to an environment where users can hide behind anonymity for abusive behavior.

Government Response

Caroline Dinenage

It is a great pleasure to serve under the stewardship of Esther McVey. I thank Damian Hinds and Siobhan Baillie for their contributions, and acknowledge that online anonymity is an important issue. Anonymous abuse online has risen due to increased reliance on digital platforms during the pandemic; this includes anti-vax content and encouragement of self-harm or suicide. The Government recognises the role of anonymity in protecting vulnerable individuals while addressing harmful anonymous abuse through legislation like the Online Harms White Paper consultation, which sets out expectations for companies to keep users safe online. Companies will need to remove illegal content, assess child access risks, and tackle legal but harmful content. The regulatory framework will include sanctions up to 10% of global turnover, ensuring Ofcom has enforcement power. The Government is committed to tackling all online harms while maintaining freedom of expression, and will continue working with parliamentarians for pre-legislative scrutiny to ensure robust legislation.

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