I know people feel very strongly about this issue and I agree with the importance of protecting freedom of speech. 

As you know, the Bill will establish a duty of care on companies to improve the safety of users, overseen and enforced by Ofcom.

I believe the Government has not yet struck the proper balance between free speech and regulation. Previously, its approach focused almost entirely on platforms taking down content while not specifying exactly what legal harms they would have to address. Now, they have veered in exactly the opposite direction and removed these provisions altogether which will do nothing to protect against abusers and hoaxers, who will feel encouraged to thrive online.

I would prefer to see the Bill tackling the business models, systems and policies that drive the impact of such harms rather than going after individual content. Currently, the business models of most social media companies are based on engagement. The more engagement, the more money made, which rewards controversy and sensationalism. Tackling this would strengthen the Bill while addressing questions about freedom of speech.

I also want to see Ofcom regulating based on risk level rather than size, as some smaller platforms can still have significant and harmful effects. I welcome the Government’s commitment to reconsider this.

Additionally, I am concerned by the significant powers the current Bill gives to the Government, including what I believe to be the unjustified intrusion of Ministers into decisions about the regulation of speech and the independence of the regulator, Ofcom. I completely agree with you – the decision behind what is allowed online should never be made by Ministers or influenced by politics.

We need effective, fit-for-purpose legislation that cracks down on the harms, hate and fake news that flourishes online. It is vital we protect young and vulnerable people from online harms.

I have long argued that the legislation should contain criminal sanctions for senior tech executives who repeatedly breach the new law, and therefore welcome the Government’s commitment to this. However, I believe they must be contained within the Bill as a default.