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Online Safety Act 2023: Repeal
15 December 2025
Lead MP
Lewis Atkinson
Sunderland Central
Lab
Responding Minister
Ian Murray
Tags
NHS
Word Count: 22740
Other Contributors: 17
At a Glance
Lewis Atkinson raised concerns about online safety act 2023: repeal in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.
Key Requests to Government:
The lead MP asks for Ofcom to take further steps to simplify the record-keeping and risk-assessment burdens for small sites, potentially creating exemptions based on a combination of size and risk level.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
The petition received 550,138 signatures from people worried about the impact of the Online Safety Act on online forums and community spaces. The Act has led to concerns among unpaid volunteers managing these sites who feel overwhelmed by new regulations and at risk of legal consequences. Some have shut down their sites or migrated to larger platforms.
Amanda Hack
Lab
North West Leicestershire
Stressed the importance of regulating social media algorithm serving harmful content to vulnerable individuals, based on her public health experience.
Ann Davies
PC
Caerfyrddin
Noted one in four children aged 13 to 17 in England and Wales have turned to AI chatbots for mental health support, and expressed concern about the lack of a trusted adult they can reach out to.
Anneliese Dodds
Lab/Co-op
Oxford East
Pays tribute to site managers and moderators who have done significant community work, highlighting the importance of vibrant online spaces.
Emily Darlington
Lab
Milton Keynes Central
Ms Darlington provides statistical data, noting that 70% of UK residents support the Online Safety Act and age verification measures. She raises concerns about children's exposure to violent sexual content online and stranger approaches on gaming platforms. Agreed that the Online Safety Act needs improvement and discussed the impact of deepfakes and AI nudifying apps on mental health, particularly among young people. Emphasised the need for protecting democracy online. Asked if the Minister would look at evidence produced by an inquiry on brain development to inform its advice to parents. Highlighted issues with Ofcom's ability to enforce regulations without access to algorithm details, questioning effectiveness before elections.
Ian Murray
SNP
East Renfrewshire
Discussed the need for clarity on chatbots and emotional dependence, and mentioned plans for a child safety summit in 2026. Argued for monitoring and evaluating the Act, noting technology's rapid development. Expressed concern about the impact of algorithms on democracy and misinformation during election periods.
Iqbal Mohamed
Ind
Dewsbury and Batley
Agrees with the need to balance protection of under-age children from harmful content while acknowledging unintended consequences on small forums. Supports the intent of the Online Safety Act but argues for improvements in age restrictions to avoid blocking lawful political content and calls for clearer regulation of generative AI tools due to their potential to generate harmful and misleading content. Discussed concerns about emerging technologies like generative AI and chatbots and their implications for the Online Safety Act's legal clarity regarding children's exposure to AI-generated content. Discussed age assurance technologies and their effectiveness.
Jim McMahon
Lab/Co-op
Oldham West, Chadderton and Royton
Critiques the lack of adequate online regulation and highlights the need for stricter measures to protect against harmful content, hate, division, exploitation, and extremism on social media platforms. The MP questioned whether some widely used platforms are deliberately suppressing mainstream opinion to amplify false information, suggesting hidden interests beyond just increasing use. He agreed that algorithms may have political agendas. Mr McMahon notes the difficulty of competing with established platforms due to user habit and highlights the importance of mainstream content on existing platforms. He questions whether a more level playing field for such content is needed. Noted the impact of online threats on offline behaviour, such as schoolchildren carrying knives and weapons due to online communication. The hon. Member expressed concern about how harmful AI-generated content is normalised, potentially leading more people down a dangerous path towards real-world harm such as child abuse. Asked why VPN companies are not included in the legislation to ensure compliance with age verification measures. Asked for better integration of election law with online regulation to address misinformation during elections.
John Slinger
Lab
Rugby
Supported calls for transparency in algorithms, noting that Ofcom can require companies to disclose information about their recommender systems to aid researchers and improve safety regulations. Asked if outrage should be directed at the Government's lack of action on online grooming offences.
Julia Lopez
Con
Hornchurch and Upminster
The Conservative MP suggested that the chair of the debate would happily take up an hour discussing internet perils, indicating a humorous but serious tone towards regulation efforts.
Lizzi Collinge
Lab
Morecambe and Lunesdale
Acknowledges concerns from smaller hobby sites about the Online Safety Act and expresses confidence that Ofcom and the Government will address these issues appropriately. Inquired whether parents are equipped to talk to their children about dangers and risks associated with sharing images and communicating online.
Lola McEvoy
Lab
Darlington
Supported stronger age verification measures and highlighted disturbing content fed to young people through algorithms. Discussed potential amendments to make sure that any profile generated by AI is explicitly marketed as such and suggested that functioning AI could be put to good use in the NHS for signposting.
Stratford-on-Avon
Asked whether the Act regulates generative AI chatbots, despite evidence of harm caused to children from private interaction with them.
Anneliese Dodds
Raised the issue of pornography and other harmful content, expressing concerns about user-to-user services allowing pornographic content.
Peter Fortune
Con
Bromley and Chislehurst
Emphasised that the Online Safety Act should not be used as a blunt tool but rather in a balanced manner, respecting freedom of speech. Childnet has discovered increased downloading of VPNs by children over three months as adolescents use them to circumvent age verification processes, raising concerns about the effectiveness of the Online Safety Act.
Tom Collins
Lab
Worcester
Discussed the evolution of the internet from a decentralised platform to one with significant risks, citing harmful content on YouTube and TikTok recommending eating disorder and self-harm material to young users. Described social media and smartphone use as a 'chemistry lab' for children's mental health issues, highlighting the need to balance free speech with child safety. Asked about reviewing the Act and moving from a register of harms to domains of safety.
Tom Hayes
Lab
Bournemouth East
The MP discussed the need to balance protection against serious online harms with the preservation of lawful speech. He also emphasized the importance of supporting teachers to provide consistent teaching on critical thinking about online safety across schools. Asked whether the need for online safety is related to national security given Russia's export of chaos into western democracies, targeting Britain.
Harpenden and Berkhamsted
Stressed the importance of balancing protections with freedom of speech and mentioned areas where the Online Safety Act falls short, such as age-gating certain websites. Highlighted harmful content on TikTok and X platforms. Noted that AI chatbots are covered by the Online Safety Act but certain new harms like emotional dependence are not addressed.
Government Response
Ian Murray
The Minister for Digital Government and Data
Government Response
Acknowledged the contributions of Members and praised the lead MP for a measured approach. Emphasized the non-negotiable importance of child safety online, supporting robust regulation while addressing concerns about legal but harmful content and regulatory burdens. Discussed significant action taken in 2025 on online safety, including the implementation of illegal harms codes of practice and child safety regime. Highlighted that services now use age assurance to prevent children from encountering harmful content such as pornography or content promoting self-harm. Emphasized Ofcom's role in recommending proportionate measures for providers based on size and risk profile. Discussed plans for a child safety summit in 2026 and mentioned the importance of evidence-based actions. Emphasized that freedom of expression is guaranteed while regulating to protect children online. Stated that the Online Safety Act does not limit freedom of speech but protects it. Emphasised that Ofcom will produce a report on age assurance technologies in July 2026, and there is an iterative approach to strengthening codes of practice as online harms evolve. Addressed concerns about the Online Safety Act's implementation, stating that Ofcom can take action if platforms fail to improve. Emphasised support for encryption but warned against designs that harm public safety. Mentioned government actions on deepfakes and non-consensual images. Acknowledged need for proportionate regulation of small websites and committed to a post-implementation review focusing on burdens on low-risk services.
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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.