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1400781

registered interest
date	07/01/2022
answering body	Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept id	10
answering dept short name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept sort name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
hansard heading	Social Media: Harassment
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions officials in her Department have had with representatives of social media platforms on tackling the use of anonymous accounts to abuse people.
tabling member constituency	Upper Bann
tabling member printed	Carla Lockhart
uin	99411
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/01/2022 answer text <p>Officials have regular meetings and discussions with social media platforms on a range of issues, including the use of anonymous accounts.</p><p>The Online Safety Bill will require companies in scope to manage the risk of online anonymous abuse. Companies will need to remove and limit the spread of illegal content and prevent children from harmful abuse. Major platforms will also need to set out clearly what legal content is acceptable for adult users on their services and enforce their terms and conditions consistently and transparently. This applies whether a user is anonymous or not.</p><p>If platforms fail in their duties under the Bill, they will face tough enforcement action including fines of up to 10% of global annual qualifying turnover.</p><p>The draft Bill has been subject to pre-legislative scrutiny by a Joint Committee which reported its recommendations on 14 December. We are considering the Committee’s report and will introduce the Bill as soon as possible.</p> answering member constituency Croydon South answering member printed Chris Philp question first answered 17/01/2022 18:15:55 answering member 4503 label Biography information for Chris Philp
tabling member	4857 label Biography information for Carla Lockhart

1349020

registered interest
date	21/07/2021
answering body	Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept id	10
answering dept short name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept sort name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
hansard heading	Social Media: Harassment
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether he has had recent discussions with social media representatives in the UK on tackling social media users who make death threats towards politicians.
tabling member constituency	Strangford
tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
uin	37471
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/09/2021 answer text <p>Ministers and officials regularly meet with a range of stakeholders, including from social media companies, on matters relating to online safety. The government published the draft Online Safety Bill in May. It will give online platforms new legal duties to tackle abuse and other harmful content on their services.</p> answering member constituency Gosport answering member printed Caroline Dinenage question first answered 06/09/2021 10:12:05 answering member 4008 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Dinenage
tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1315151

registered interest
date	17/05/2021
answering body	Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept id	10
answering dept short name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept sort name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
hansard heading	Social Media: Harassment
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the algorithms used by social media firms to moderate hate speech and online abuse on their platforms.
tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne Central
tabling member printed	Chi Onwurah
uin	2283
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/05/2021 answer text <p>Companies are not doing enough to prevent hate speech and online abuse.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>The Online Safety Bill, which has now been published in draft, will require all companies to take swift and effective action against hate speech and online abuse.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>The Bill will ensure that all companies remove and limit the spread of illegal content, and that they keep their promises to stamp out this sort of abuse. Major platforms will also need to deal with abuse that falls below the criminal threshold. They will need to set and enforce clear terms and conditions on how they will tackle this content.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>For the first time, companies will be held accountable for keeping their users safe on their platforms, and Ofcom will have robust powers to enforce the rules if companies do not comply.</p><p><strong> </strong></p> answering member constituency Gosport answering member printed Caroline Dinenage question first answered 21/05/2021 13:26:00 answering member 4008 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Dinenage
tabling member	4124 label Biography information for Chi Onwurah

1304101

registered interest
date	18/03/2021
answering body	Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept id	10
answering dept short name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept sort name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
hansard heading	Social Media: Harassment
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of (a) making online abuse a specific criminal offence and (b) making verified identification a requirement for opening a social media account.
tabling member constituency	Ealing Central and Acton
tabling member printed	Dr Rupa Huq
uin	171671
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/03/2021 answer text <p>Being anonymous online does not give anyone the right to abuse others. Under the new Online Safety framework, which will be introduced in the Online Safety Bill later this year, companies in scope will need to limit the spread of illegal abuse on their services, including illegal anonymous abuse. Major platforms will also need to set out clearly what legal content is acceptable on their platform, and stick to it. The major online services and social media platforms will also need to take action with regard to legal but harmful content</p><p>The Government has sponsored a Law Commission review of harmful online communications, which is considering whether current law needs updating to help tackle online abuses. The Law Commission has consulted on provisional reforms and will issue final recommendations later this year, which we will carefully consider.</p><p>There are many legitimate reasons why an individual would not wish to identify themselves online. Whistleblowers, victims of modern slavery and survivors of domestic abuse may wish to stay anonymous, to protect their identity online. Our proposals strike the right balance between protecting users’ rights online, while preserving freedom of expression.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Gosport answering member printed Caroline Dinenage question first answered 23/03/2021 12:50:08 answering member 4008 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Dinenage
tabling member	4511 label Biography information for Dr Rupa Huq

1303411

registered interest
date	17/03/2021
answering body	Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept id	10
answering dept short name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept sort name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
hansard heading	Social Media: Harassment
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what plans he has to tackle racist and misogynistic abuse in newspaper comment sections.
tabling member constituency	Kingston upon Hull West and Hessle
tabling member printed	Emma Hardy
uin	170720
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/03/2021 answer text <p>The government is committed to a free and independent press, and does not intervene in what the press can and cannot publish. We are clear, however, that with this freedom, comes responsibility, which media organisations must take seriously. It is important that there exists an independent self regulatory regime to ensure that the press adheres to a wide set of clear and appropriate standards, and to offer individuals a means of redress where these are not met.</p><p>The majority of traditional publishers—including 95% of national newspapers by circulation—are members of The Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO). A small number of publishers have joined The Independent Monitor for the Press (IMPRESS). These regulators issue codes of conduct which provide guidelines on a range of areas including discrimination, and set out the rules that members have agreed to follow.</p><p>Complaints about comments on news websites can be directed to the publication itself, or to the appropriate self-regulator.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Maldon answering member printed Mr John Whittingdale question first answered 22/03/2021 14:06:52 answering member 39 label Biography information for Sir John Whittingdale
tabling member	4645 label Biography information for Emma Hardy

1302245

registered interest
date	12/03/2021
answering body	Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept id	10
answering dept short name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept sort name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
hansard heading	Social Media: Harassment
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, if his Department will take steps with social media companies to tackle online abuse directed at supporters of the Indian farmers protests.
tabling member constituency	Leicester East
tabling member printed	Claudia Webbe
uin	167980
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/03/2021 answer text <p>We are taking steps through the online harms regulatory framework to ensure that online abuse is addressed. Under a new legal duty of care, companies will need to remove and limit the spread of illegal content, including illegal online abuse. All companies will need to take swift and effective action against such content.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>Companies providing high-risk, high-reach services will also need to undertake regular risk assessments to identify legal but harmful material on their services. These companies will need to set clear terms and conditions which explicitly state what categories of legal but harmful material they accept (and do not accept) on their service. Companies will need to enforce these terms and conditions consistently and transparently and could face enforcement action if they do not.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>The new regulatory framework will require companies to address the risk of harm to users in the UK, no matter where the companies are based. The Online Safety Bill, which will give effect to the regulatory framework, will be ready this year.</p><p><strong> </strong></p> answering member constituency Gosport answering member printed Caroline Dinenage question first answered 18/03/2021 12:57:17 answering member 4008 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Dinenage
tabling member	4848 label Biography information for Claudia Webbe

1251804

registered interest
date	12/11/2020
answering body	Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept id	10
answering dept short name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept sort name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
hansard heading	Social Media: Harassment
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps his Department is taking to reduce bullying and harassment on social media.
tabling member constituency	Brecon and Radnorshire
tabling member printed	Fay Jones
uin	115025
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/11/2020 answer text <p>Bullying and harassment online is unacceptable. This government will establish in law a new ‘duty of care’ on companies towards their users - to ensure companies have robust systems and processes in place to keep their users safe.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>This duty of care will have an emphasis on child protection and will increase the protections for all users, including the most vulnerable, from online abuse, bullying and harassment. Under new proposals companies will need to remove illegal content expeditiously and put in place systems to minimise the risk of illegal content appearing on their services.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>For content that is legal but harmful, companies will need to make clear what content is acceptable on their services and enforce their terms and conditions consistently and transparently. In addition, companies will need to have effective systems for users to report harmful content.</p><p><strong> </strong></p> answering member constituency Gosport answering member printed Caroline Dinenage question first answered 19/11/2020 17:32:08 answering member 4008 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Dinenage
tabling member	4763 label Biography information for Fay Jones

1216016

registered interest
date	22/06/2020
answering body	Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept id	10
answering dept short name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept sort name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
hansard heading	Social Media: Harassment
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what recent discussions he has had with representatives of social media platforms on protecting vulnerable people with anxiety caused by online bullying when using social media platforms.
tabling member constituency	Strangford
tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
uin	62434
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/06/2020 answer text <p>Ministers and officials have regular meetings with social media platforms on a range of issues, including online bullying and protecting vulnerable people. Details of Ministerial meetings are published quarterly on the GOV.UK website.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Gosport answering member printed Caroline Dinenage question first answered 26/06/2020 15:17:36 answering member 4008 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Dinenage
tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1216136

registered interest
date	22/06/2020
answering body	Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept id	10
answering dept short name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept sort name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
hansard heading	Social Media: Harassment
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what plans he has to help ensure that people with Down’s Syndrome are able to use social media platforms without fear of bullying or harassment.
tabling member constituency	Southampton, Itchen
tabling member printed	Royston Smith
uin	62520
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/06/2020 answer text <p>The government intends to introduce world-leading Online Harms legislation to make the UK the safest place to be online. We intend to establish in law a new duty of care on companies towards their users which will be overseen by an independent regulator. The Government published its Initial Consultation Response to the Online Harms White Paper in February 2020, and this set out our direction of travel on a number of key areas. We are aiming to publish a full government response to the Online Harms White Paper consultation later this year, and this will include more detailed proposals on online harms regulation.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>In addition to this new legislation, it is important to make sure that the criminal law is fit for purpose to deal with online harms. DCMS and the Ministry of Justice have engaged the Law Commission on a second phase of their review of abusive and offensive online communications. The Law Commission will review existing communications offences and make specific recommendations about options for reform, to ensure that criminal law provides consistent and effective protection against such behaviour.</p> answering member constituency Gosport answering member printed Caroline Dinenage question first answered 26/06/2020 15:19:57 answering member 4008 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Dinenage
tabling member	4478 label Biography information for Royston Smith

1181871

registered interest
date	02/03/2020
answering body	Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept id	10
answering dept short name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept sort name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
hansard heading	Social Media: Harassment
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what recent discussions he has had with social media companies on tackling online bullying.
tabling member constituency	Strangford
tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
uin	23475
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/03/2020 answer text <p>Ministers and officials have regular discussions with social media companies on a range of issues, including online bullying. Details of Ministerial meetings are published quarterly on the <a href="https://www.gov.uk/" target="_blank">GOV.UK</a> website.</p> answering member constituency Gosport answering member printed Caroline Dinenage question first answered 09/03/2020 14:16:09 answering member 4008 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Dinenage
tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon