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Online Harms — [Peter Dowd in the Chair]

26 October 2022

Lead MP

Damian Hinds
East Hampshire
Con

Responding Minister

Not recorded

Tags

Crime & Law EnforcementNHSScience & TechnologyMental HealthChildren & Families
Word Count: 14019
Other Contributors: 13

At a Glance

Damian Hinds raised concerns about online harms — [peter dowd in the chair] in Westminster Hall. Response awaited from government.

Key Requests to Government:

Hinds urges the Government to move forward with the Online Safety Bill and get it passed into law as soon as possible, while also considering necessary adjustments to reassure stakeholders. He stresses the importance of addressing child abuse, fraud, and disinformation through the legislation.

How the Debate Unfolded

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

Lead Contributor

East Hampshire
Opened the debate
Damian Hinds is concerned about the online harms facilitated and magnified by social media, particularly in relation to the tragic death of Molly Russell. He highlights a long tail of harm affecting young people through increased prevalence of self-harm, eating disorders, and mental health issues. Additionally, he notes that the Online Safety Bill must address the complexity of technology's impact on society, including child abuse, fraud, and disinformation. Hinds emphasizes the difficulty in distinguishing between adults and children online and the challenge of legislating against legal but harmful content.
Assessment & feedback
Summary accuracy

About Westminster Hall Debates

Westminster Hall debates are a chance for MPs to raise important issues affecting their constituents and get a response from a government minister. Unlike Prime Minister's Questions, these debates are more in-depth and collaborative. The MP who secured the debate speaks first, other MPs can contribute, and a minister responds with the government's position.