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LONDON – A group of British lawmakers said on Tuesday that “major changes” need to be made to the UK’s upcoming Online Safety Bill.
The bill is a proposed new piece of legislation that aims to make the Internet a safer place for people in the UK.
However, some lawmakers are concerned that the current proposals do not go far enough.
In a report released on Tuesday, the UK Parliament’s joint committee on the draft bill said more offenses should be introduced within the scope of the proposed legislation.
“We need Wild West time online,” said Damian Collins, a lawmaker and committee chair. “What is illegal offline should be regulated online.”
He added: “For too long, Big Tech has ceased to be the land of the law. “The lack of online regulation has left too many people vulnerable to abuse, fraud, violence, and in some cases, even death.”
The commission is calling for a wide range of online activities to be outlawed including the promotion of self-harm online, deepfake pornography and targeting people with epilepsy with flashing pictures online.
More powers for Ofcom?
Television and radio regulator Ofcom is responsible Internet regulation in the UK in February.
The committee said the government should give Ofcom more power to investigate, audit and fine Big Tech, adding that the regulator must also be able to set the standards for which Big Tech will be held accountable. .
“The self-regulating era of big technologies is over,” says Collins. “Companies must be held accountable for the services they have designed and profited from, and should be held accountable for the decisions they make.”
Elsewhere in the UK, the Competition and Markets Authority and the Information Commissioner’s Office are also likely to introduce fines and penalties against tech companies.
Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Twitter and TikTok have both been criticized by lawmakers in the UK and elsewhere around the world for allowing harmful content to be shared on their platforms. They say they are doing their best to get rid of it, but many lawmakers are not satisfied.
During the UK investigation, MPs and their counterparts heard from victims of online abuses, including former Manchester United player Rio Ferdinand and TV presenter Martin Lewis. The investigation also involved Facebook accusers Frances Haugen and Sophie Zhang.
The bill will be brought to the National Assembly for approval in 2022.
