Since being elected last year, I have been clear that one of my priorities is protecting our children and young people in the digital world. I have launched a campaign in support of the Online Safety Act, the landmark law which requires tech companies running social-networks and search engines to tackle illegal content and material harmful to children.
And that is why I’m deeply alarmed at the fact that Nigel Farage and his party have vowed to scrap this legislation – a move which would in effect put pornography back in our children’s pockets, by removing one of the few robust protections they currently have.
Why it matters
In the real world, we accept that some things are out of reach for a reason. A 12-year-old cannot go to see a film rated 15, pornographic magazines are placed on high shelves and require ID, a video game rated AO (Adults Only) cannot be purchased by a child. Yet online, our children can stumble across the most extreme graphic or sexual content in a couple of clicks.
The Online Safety Act helps re-inject some of that common-sense parenting into the digital age. It gives regulators meaningful tools to hold platforms to account, and gives parents greater peace of mind.
My motivation
Online safety is personal to me. Part of an MP’s role is not just to pass laws -but to explain why they’re needed. I don’t feel safe, ever – I have faced harassment and death threats simply for speaking out against online misogyny. If I don’t use my platform to advocate for stronger protections for women, girls and children, how can I expect anyone else to?
In Milton Keynes I’ve spoken to parents who feel helpless. One told me students in their school are making deepfakes of classmates; another is worried their child is exposed to content that no parent wants to imagine. These are real-world harms, not abstract worries.
A campaign for awareness & action
To help drive this change, I am rolling out a series of videos inspired by the public information films of the past – the ones that warned about fire safety, drunk driving and child abuse. These films worked because they made us stop, think and act. I believe we need that same level of public awareness today when it comes to our kids’ online lives.
When I was growing up, we learnt “stranger danger” the offline way. Now we let strangers into our children’s lives via screens, often invisible, unchecked, and with far too much access. It terrifies me – and it terrifies many of the other parents I know.
What’s next?
The government has made really positive changes with the Online Safety Act – but the job isn’t done. We must insist on full enforcement, support for parents and schools, and ongoing public education about the digital risks our children face. I will keep fighting for this, both in Parliament and here in Milton Keynes.
If you’re a parent, a teacher, or simply someone who cares about children’s online safety – I urge you to join the conversation. Let’s demand that tech companies are held to the standard our kids deserve. Let’s make sure we don’t roll back protections just when they’re starting to work.
Read full articles here: Milton Keynes MP takes on Farage over online safety / https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/nigel-farage-vow-scrap-online-36210950