Commons Sense

House of Commons · Westminster Hall

Online Abuse

28 February 2022 · 4 other contributors · 12,548 words

Opened by Catherine McKinnell Lab Newcastle upon Tyne North

Responding minister: Chris Philp

UkraineWomen & Equalities

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Catherine McKinnell raised concerns about online abuse in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.

Key points

  • Speaker raises concern over growing issue of online abuse on social media platforms
  • Statistics from Ofcom's survey show 13% experienced trolling, 10% encountered offensive language, and 9% faced hate speech or threats
  • Calls for government to consult affected communities and align Online Safety Bill with Equality Act and hate crime laws

Key requests to Government

The lead MP asks the government to consult with civil society organisations representing communities most affected by online harassment, align the draft Online Safety Bill with protections already established in the Equality Act 2010 and hate crime laws, and ensure that platforms assess the vulnerability of certain groups online. She also calls for robust measures to prevent previously banned users from returning to continue abusing their victims.

How the debate unfolded

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

Opened the debate

Catherine McKinnell Lab Newcastle upon Tyne North

The speaker is concerned about the growing issue of online abuse on social media platforms, which has affected many individuals including public figures and ordinary users. She cited statistics from Ofcom's pilot online harms survey indicating that over a four-week period, 13% experienced trolling, 10% encountered offensive or upsetting language, and 9% faced hate speech or threats of violence. The speaker emphasized the impact on marginalized groups such as women, disabled people, and members of the LGBT community who are disproportionately targeted for abuse.

Other contributors (4)
  • Alex Davies-Jones Lab Pontypridd

    Called for decisive action on the Online Safety Bill, noting the significant number of signatures supporting stronger online protections. Highlighted issues such as the failure to regulate abusive content and the need for robust penalties for social media executives who fail to tackle harms. Mentioned the lack of regulation regarding anonymity on smaller platforms and the rise of new technologies like virtual reality that pose risks to children.

  • Damian Collins Con Tunbridge Wells

    Mr. Collins addressed the petitions on online abuse, highlighting the growing public concern about abusive material and behaviour online, especially on social media. He mentioned that illegal offline activities should also be regulated online with platform liability for hosting abusive content. He emphasised the need to set safety standards based on UK laws rather than American terms of service and advocated for clearer definitions of priority harms in the Online Safety Bill.

  • Jim Shannon DUP Strangford

    Jim Shannon expressed concerns about online abuse, highlighting the need for changes to the draft Online Safety Bill. He cited a Middlesex University survey showing that around 53% of 11 to 16-year-olds have seen graphic porn content and urged stronger restrictions on anonymity and immediate removal of posts upon complaint. Shannon also raised issues related to access to pornography, expressing the need for protection against harmful online content and questioning if the Bill addresses these concerns adequately.

  • Siobhan Baillie Con Stroud

    The MP discussed the need to tackle anonymous online abuse and proposed verification measures for social media accounts. She highlighted that over 700,000 signatures have been collected on related petitions. The MP also stressed the importance of addressing cyber-flashing issues faced by young girls and thanked celebrities who have brought attention to the issue.

Government Response

Chris Philp

I associate myself with the remarks made by the shadow Minister and other colleagues, expressing deep concern for the situation in Ukraine. I thank the hon. Member for Newcastle upon Tyne North for introducing the debate and extending gratitude to those who signed petitions supporting it. The online world offers significant opportunities but also presents challenges where abuse affects people's daily lives severely, particularly women, girls, LGBT+ individuals, and ethnic minorities. The Government recognises these issues and acknowledges the disproportionate impact on certain groups. The draft Online Safety Bill will address these concerns; changes have been made based on feedback from committees, stakeholders, and parliamentarians. Significant modifications include specifying priority illegal offences, proactive prevention of such offences by social media firms, legal but harmful content protection for children regardless of platform size, and age-assurance measures to prevent under-18s accessing online pornography. Enforcement mechanisms involve £110 million investment over two years for Ofcom, which will impose fines up to 10% of global income. Criminal liability provisions are also included. The Bill is technology-agnostic, covering new technologies like the Metaverse. Regarding anonymity, category 1 firms will offer users identity verification and interaction choice options.

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