The UK Agrees To The Online Security Law That Punishes The Leaders Of Technology Companies If They Fail To Protect Children

Michelle Donelan, UK Minister of Culture and Digital Affairs. (photo: twitter @michelledonelan)

JAKARTA – The British government has agreed to strengthen an online security law proposed by parliament. Under the law, leaders of technology companies can be jailed if their platforms fail to protect children from online harm.

Rishi Sunak was forced to approve the bill as he faced a losing vote in the House of Commons on Tuesday 17 January. Especially after 50 Conservative MPs and the main opposition party said they would support another amendment to the long-delayed Online Safety Bill.

Opposition parties have tabled amendments that propose a jail term of up to two years for tech bosses for failing to protect children from content such as child abuse and self-harm.

Michelle Donelan, the UK's minister for culture and digital, said in a written statement to parliament that the government had agreed to amend the law so that executives could be jailed if they "agreed or conspired" to ignore the new rules.

"This amendment will not affect those who have acted in good faith," Donelan said, as quoted by Reuters. But it would provide "additional teeth to deliver change and ensure that people can be held accountable if they fail to adequately protect children".

This is the third time Sunak, who has a majority of 67 votes, has stepped down in the face of similar opposition in parliament since he took office as prime minister in October.

The UK, like the European Union and other countries, has struggled to protect social media users, particularly children, from harmful content without undermining free speech.

The bill was originally designed to create one of the toughest regimes to regulate platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube.

The bill aims to get companies to eradicate illegal content on their sites, such as pornography, revenge content and encouraging suicide.

However, the proposal was watered down in November, when the requirement to stop "legal but harmful content" was removed on the grounds it could undermine free speech. Instead platforms will be required to enforce age restrictions on social media users.

Companies can face fines of up to 10% of turnover if they do not take action to remove illegal content or restrict access to underage users.

The UK's Technology Industry Agency said threatening executives with prison terms would not help provide an effective regime to protect children, but it would damage Britain's digital economy.

"The drafted bill does have 'teeth' that will ensure compliance," he said. He added that the amendments created "significant legal dangers for companies" and would make the UK a less attractive country for investors.