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The Minister of State for Digital and Culture presented a draft Online Safety Bill to Parliament in May 2021 in the United Kingdom.
As a result, new legislation will help to keep children safe online, protect democratic debates, and eliminate some of the worst cases of racial hatred.
A new regulatory framework will tackle digital harmful content, by:
The government's manifesto included a commitment to making the United Kingdom one of the safest places in the world to be online.
As such, one of the key objectives behind the draft Online Safety Bill 2021 is defending 'freedom of expression'.
Here's why...
Some described it as a 'watershed moment' when cabinet ministers added several new measures to the Bill. The primary aim is to safeguard an ability to express our beliefs, ideas, and thoughts online.
Hence, being able to ensure key online protections means they will not result in any unnecessary censorship. We should view the draft Bill as a significant milestone in the fight to make the Internet a safe place to interact with others.
Nowadays, most people are using the Internet more than ever before. Nonetheless, more than 75% of UK adults express some concerns about going online.
Furthermore, in recent years more parents feel the risks of their children being online are outweighing many of the benefits.
Note: The main section contains more news stories about children and education (with archived material from previous years).
So, what exactly is inside the draft Online Safety Bill? Among the most significant changes is one that should put an end to harmful practices.
Thus, it brings in a new era of accountability and protections to enhance democratic debate. On top of that, the Bill also includes:
Note: A joint committee of MPs will scrutinise the draft Online Safety Bill before introducing a formal version to Parliament.
There are five main goals of the Bill. It should create a fair, accountable system, and intends to become the most progressive in the world. The elements that make up the new landmark laws, include:
Note: The GOV.UK website has more information about the Online Safety Bill and how it should keep children safe, protect democracy, and stop racial hate online.
New Legislation Presented to UK Parliament to Help Keep Children Safe Online