Contributions
948 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDSocial Media Ban for Under-16sWe will come back to VPNs in July; I have commissioned further research about their usage. There are really important issues to balance here. Many people want to use VPNs for…15 Jun 2026HANSARDSocial Media Ban for Under-16sYes. As I said, under the Online Safety Act we already have powers to fine companies up to 10% of their qualifying worldwide revenue and, should companies repeatedly refuse to…15 Jun 2026HANSARDSocial Media Ban for Under-16sMy hon. Friend is a huge champion, and has pushed hard, for many of these measures and many more besides. The ban links to the device-level interventions we have talked about, but…15 Jun 2026HANSARDSocial Media Ban for Under-16sThe right hon. Gentleman is right to say that we are not including things like WhatsApp in this policy. Parents have been clear that they want to be able to contact their…15 Jun 2026HANSARDSocial Media Ban for Under-16sI have to admit that I am not sure whether the hon. Lady is for or against the ban. [ Interruption. ] She is a Lib Dem, say Members on the Conservative Benches. She asked about…15 Jun 2026HANSARDSocial Media Ban for Under-16sI thank my hon. Friend for her question. As I think I have said in this House before, I will look again at the recommendations of that report. My right hon. Friend the Member for…15 Jun 2026HANSARDSocial Media Ban for Under-16sI am glad that the hon. Lady said at the end of her question that she will work with us to ensure that we implement this policy effectively. That is extremely important. I…15 Jun 2026HANSARDSocial Media Ban for Under-16sWe are doing this to give greater protections to children and greater clarity to parents and carers, and to set a new social norm for future generations. My intention is to lay…15 Jun 2026HANSARDSocial Media Ban for Under-16sAbsolutely. I have been very clear throughout this statement that the responsibility is on the social media platforms, not on parents or children, and that it is up to them to…15 Jun 2026HANSARDSocial Media Ban for Under-16sI thank my right hon. Friend for her question; she has campaigned tirelessly on this. The model in Australia that we plan to use captures user-to-user platforms that have enabling…15 Jun 2026HANSARDSocial Media Ban for Under-16sMy hon. Friend is a passionate advocate. We are absolutely clear about the fact that these so-called romantic, or companion, sexualised chatbots are wrong for children, and we…15 Jun 2026HANSARDSocial Media Ban for Under-16sIt is more complicated than it seems, but in the end, to govern is to choose. There are already strong requirements on companies under the Online Safety Act, as I said, and the…15 Jun 2026HANSARDSocial Media Ban for Under-16srose—15 Jun 2026HANSARDChild Protection OnlineMy hon. Friend is right: follow the money. I am highly aware of that, and we are determined to act. My right hon. Friend the Minister for Digital Government and Data is chairing…20 May 2026HANSARDChild Protection OnlineYes, that is absolutely my objective. I remind the House that our consultation is looking at not just whether there should be a ban on social media for under-16s but a whole range…20 May 2026HANSARDChild Protection OnlineYes, I do agree. We have legislated, and we are prepared to go further. I have already made strangulation and suffocation in porn a priority offence under the Online Safety Act.…20 May 2026HANSARDTopical QuestionsWe want to ensure that people from all walks of life and in every part of the country can seize the opportunities that tech and AI bring. That is why we are upskilling 10 million…20 May 2026HANSARDGrowing up in the Online World: ConsultationWe will come forward with proposals before the summer. We have already taken powers in the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026 to implement the results of that consultation,…20 May 2026HANSARDChild Protection OnlineEnsuring that children have healthy and safe lives online is one of my top priorities. From making cyber-flashing and self-harm and suicide content the subject of priority…20 May 2026HANSARDGrowing up in the Online World: ConsultationLet me just reassure my hon. Friend on some of those points. We have had 38,000 parents respond to the surveys, which I think is good, but there is more to be done there. In terms…20 May 2026