As part of the Digital Economy Act (DEA), the House of Lords and the House of Commons approved robust, age verification controls to be introduced to protect children from commercial, online pornography websites. The UK was set to become a world leader in taking this bold, innovative step. The technology was ready and an independent regulator had been selected.
But, after numerous delays, the UK Government suddenly abandoned the scheme on 16 October 2019. At the time, it was suggested that an equally robust proposal for age verification to protect children from commercial, online porn websites would be included in the new, Online Harms Bill.
In December 2020, the Government finally published its response to the White Paper consultation on the proposed Online Harms Bill. Since then, it has become more than apparent that the new legislation will fall far short of the age verification controls approved by Parliament as part of the DEA.
At CARE, we think age verification controls are the right approach to protect our young people from exposure to pornography websites online. The Government's new proposals fall short of the protection you could expect from age verification.
Thanks to the efforts of Baroness Benjamin in the House of Lords, there is now a fresh opportunity to make sure age verification is introduced.
DomestÂic Abuse Bill and Pornography
Baroness Benjamin has tabled an amendment, known as 87A, to the UK Government's landmark Domestic Abuse Bill. This legislation creates, for the first time ever, a statutory definition of domestic abuse. It also improves the help on offer to victims and gives the police new powers to tackle this all too common problem.
When the Bill passed through the Commons, the Government accepted the need to end the 'rough sex defence'. It introduced new clause 65 to this end. Following this, CARE supported Baroness Benjamin and others make the case that it's not enough to repeal the rough sex defence when you could also prevent incidences of rough sex in the first place.
The UK Government's own research has highlighted the link between pornography and domestic violence. So, Baroness Benjamin's amendment requires the Government to analyse whether age verification on commercial pornography will help break this link. If it does, then the Secretary of State must set a date for implementing age verification.
We need your help
There are many Members of the House of Lords who are supportive of Baroness Benjamin's amendment. To help increase the likelihood of it passing, we need your help persuading others of the merits of the amendment.
Please will you consider writing to at least 3 Peers, from the list below? In your own words, here are some points to make:
- Stress your support of the Domestic Abuse Bill and say it's important to tackle not only the issue of domestic violence, but also the root causes as well.
- Say you're glad the Government has introduced NC65 to repeal the rough sex defence but add that it's important to stop incidents of rough sex occurring in the first place.
- To this end, ask them to support Baroness Benjamin's amendment if it's put to a vote
- Point out that the new Online Harms Bill is yet to be introduced to Parliament and as such, it'll take years before it's implemented, whereas age verification is ready to go.
- Say that you're aware the proposals to protect children from online pornography in the Online Harms Bill fall far short of the protection on offer through age verification.
- Add that MPs and Peers have already approved age verification and therefore, it's important for the integrity of Parliament that the Government is forced to implement it.
Please select three Peers from the list below
Simply click on the email address of the Peer you select and then write your email, using the points above as a guide.
If you can, please pick at least 3 Peers to email, although, of course, we're very grateful even if you manage just one email!
Name of Peer |
Salutation |
Email address |
The Lord Alton of Liverpool |
Lord Alton |
|
The Baroness Bakewell of Hardington Mandeville MBE |
Lady Bakewell |
|
The Rt Hon. The Lord Bassam of Brighton |
Lord Bassam |
|
The Baroness Bonham-Carter of Yarnbury |
Lady Bonham-Carter |
|
The Lord Browne of Belmont |
Lord Browne |
|
The Rt Hon. The Baroness Butler-Sloss, GBE |
Lady Butler-Sloss |
|
The Lord Clement-Jones, CBE |
Lord Clement-Jones |
|
The Lord Collins of Highbury |
Lord Collins |
|
The Lord Cormack |
Lord Cormack |
|
The Lord Curry of Kirkharle, CBE |
Lord Curry |
|
The Lord Davidson of Glen Clova |
Lord Davidson |
|
The Rt Hon. The Lord Deben PC |
Lord Deben |
|
The Lord Dholakia, OBE, DL |
Lord Dholakia |
|
The Baroness Doocey |
Lady Doocey |
|
The Baroness Eaton |
Lady Eaton |
|
The Rt Hon. The Lord Elton |
Lord Elton |
|
The Lord Farmer |
Lord Farmer |
|
The Baroness Finlay of Llandaff |
Lady Finlay |
|
The Lord Fox |
Lord Fox |
|
The Lord Framlingham |
Lord Framlingham |
|
The Baroness Gardner of Parkes |
Lady Gardner |
|
The Lord Grantchester |
Lord Grantchester |
|
The Baroness Grey-Thompson |
Lady Grey-Thompson |
|
The Baroness Hamwee |
Lady Hamwee |
|
The Lord Harris of Haringey |
Lord Harris |
|
The Lord Hastings of Scarisbrick, CBE |
Lord Hastings |
|
The Lord Hay of Ballyore |
Lord Hay |
|
The Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town |
Lady Hayter |
|
The Baroness Healy of Primrose Hill |
Lady Healy |
|
The Baroness Hussein-Ece |
Lady Hussein-Ece |
|
The Lord Hylton |
Lord Hylton |
|
The Baroness Jolly |
Lady Jolly |
|
The Baroness Jones of Whitchurch |
Lady Jones |
|
The Rt Hon. the Lord Judge |
Lord Judge |
|
The Lord Kennedy of Southwark |
Lord Kennedy |
|
The Baroness Kidron, OBE |
Lady Kidron |
|
The Baroness Kramer |
Lady Kramer |
|
The Most Hon. The Marquess of Lothian QC PC DL |
Lord Lothian |
|
The Baroness Ludford |
Lady Ludford |
|
The Rt Hon. The Lord Mackay of Clashfern, KT |
Lord Mackay |
|
The Lord Marks of Henley-on-Thames |
Lord Marks |
|
The Countess of Swinton, Baroness Masham of Ilton, DL |
Lady Masham |
|
The Baroness Massey of Darwen |
Lady Massey |
|
The Rt Hon. The Lord McAvoy |
Lord McAvoy |
|
Professor the Lord McColl of Dulwich |
Lord McColl |
|
The Lord Morrow |
Lord Morrow |
|
The Lord Newby |
Lord Newby |
|
The Baroness Nicholson of Winterbourne |
Lady Nicholson |
|
The Baroness Northover |
Lady Northover |
|
The Baroness O'Cathain, OBE |
Lady O'Cathain |
|
The Baroness O'Loan |
Lady O'Loan |
|
General The Lord Ramsbotham |
Lord Ramsbotham |
|
The Baroness Randerson |
Lady Randerson |
|
The Lord Rosser |
Lord Rosser |
|
The Baroness Sherlock |
Lady Sherlock |
|
The Baroness Smith of Basildon |
Lady Smith |
|
The Baroness Smith of Newnham |
Lady Smith |
|
The Lord Stevenson of Balmacara |
Lord Stevenson |
|
The Lord Storey |
Lord Storey |
|
The Baroness Stroud |
Lady Stroud |
|
The Lord Swinfen |
Lord Swinfen |
|
The Lord Taylor of Warwick |
Lord Taylor |
|
The Lord Thomas of Gresford |
Lord Thomas |
|
The Baroness Thornton |
Lady Thornton |
|
The Rt Hon. The Lord Touhig PC |
Lord Touhig |
|
The Lord Tunnicliffe |
Lord Tunnicliffe |
|
The Baroness Uddin |
Lady Uddin |
|
The Baroness Walmsley |
Lady Walmsley |
|
The Lord Watson of Invergowrie |
Lord Watson |
|
The Baroness Wheeler |
Lady Wheeler |