Major change to Online Safety Bill in response to CARE lobbying

The UK government will make a major change to its online safety plans, in response to lobbying efforts by CARE.

Ministers agreed with CARE’s view that content that is harmful to children, including pornography, should be listed on the face of the Bill.

This prevents a situation where harmful content is determined by consultation once the Bill is already law, delaying safeguarding action.

Speaking in the Lords yesterday, a government spokesman said:

"The government has decided to make a significant change to the bill. We will now place the categories of primary priority and priority content, which is harmful to children, on the face of the bill, rather than leaving them to be designated and secondary legislation.

"So Parliament, will have its say on them. We hope that this change will reassure your Lordships that protecting children from the most harmful content is indeed the priority for this bill and that change will be made at report stage."

A spokesman for CARE commented:

"We welcome this announcement by the government. Flagging harmful content on the face of the Online Safety Bill is a more robust way forward and signals a long-term commitment to ensuring children and young people are safe online.

"This is great news and a real victory for CARE and hard-working parliamentarians. CARE staff were also delighted and humbled to be thanked by name in the Lords this week, for our steadfast campaigning and advice during debates on online safety.

"We're grateful to God for his provision in this area and we'd encourage Christians to keep praying that the online safety regime that comes into force is fit for purpose - and especially that it would create a safer internet for our children."