The long awaited Online Safety Bill has been debated and delayed due to its impacts on privacy and freedom of speech. On 19 September, it passed its final stage in parliament, meaning that it will finally become law after the idea was conceived in 2019.
What is the bill?
The purpose of the legislation is to protect users, including young people, by imposing rules on companies, such as Meta and TikTok, so that they avoid seeing harmful content. It also aims to preserve and enhance freedom of speech online and make it easier for the legal system to tackle illegal content online.
According to the government, the bill will make the UK the “safest place in the world to be online". This aims to reduce the negative impact of online content on children, including the impact on those with mental health issues and those at risk of abuse.
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