Online Safety Bill: The proposed new internet laws explained

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

The government's new 'world-leading' online safety laws were brought before Parliament for the first time on Thursday (March 17). The Online Safety Bill, which has been in progress for around five years, aims to make the internet a safer place for all users - especially children - while protecting freedom of speech.

The new laws will require social media platforms, search engines and other apps and websites allowing people to post their own content to protect children, tackle illegal activity and uphold their stated terms and conditions. It will also see regulator Ofcom have the power to fine companies failing to comply with the laws, up to ten per cent of their annual global turnover.

In recent months, the Bill has faced a number of changes and a raft of new offences have been added to it ahead of its introduction to Parliament. The Bill was first published in draft in May 2021 and the government say changes have 'significantly strengthened' it since.

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Among the changes, executives whose companies fail to cooperate with Ofcom’s information requests could face prosecution or jail time within two months of the Bill becoming law, instead of two years as it was previously drafted. The government states that the new laws will make companies 'proactively tackle the most harmful illegal content and criminal activity quicker.'

The changes come after MPs, peers and campaigners warned the initial proposals failed to offer the expected user protection. Here are the changes that have been made to the Bill - and what they all mean.

The Bill is set to combat online fraud by bringing paid-for scam adverts on social