Contributions
2,140 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARD Racist Abuse on Social MediaMy hon. Friend has worked assiduously not just on online hatred directed on racist grounds, but on other categories of people affected on social media, including women. I hope she…14 Jul 2021HANSARD Racist Abuse on Social MediaThat is an extremely interesting point, and I promise I will look into it.14 Jul 2021HANSARD Racist Abuse on Social MediaMy hon. Friend has defined what it is to live in a free country. We abide by the principles of free speech, within the genuine and legitimate confines of legislation such as hate…14 Jul 2021HANSARD Racist Abuse on Social MediaI have not seen that report, but my memory of Raheem Sterling is the story he told of growing up in the shadow of the Wembley arch and imagining himself playing under that…14 Jul 2021HANSARD Racist Abuse on Social MediaI do not know whether the hon. Lady was in the Chamber at the beginning of this urgent question when I explained that the Home Secretary is hosting a meeting—a long-standing…14 Jul 2021HANSARD Racist Abuse on Social MediaI am extremely grateful to the right hon. Lady and mindful of her own experiences with abuse, online and offline. I agree that of course these powers exist already, so one can…14 Jul 2021HANSARD Racist Abuse on Social MediaMy right hon. Friend alights on an important point. This power is already within the reach of internet companies. Those companies seem to think that their community rules somehow…14 Jul 2021HANSARD Racist Abuse on Social MediaMy hon. Friend is absolutely right. By working together, we are so much stronger. Today we have seen that there is great unity of intent and will across the House to ensure that…14 Jul 2021HANSARD Racist Abuse on Social MediaVery much so. My challenge to these tech companies is, “Look: you have some of the brightest brains in the world. You recruit from the top universities. You pay—I…14 Jul 2021HANSARD Racist Abuse on Social MediaVery much so. The Home Secretary has been targeted,, along with other Members on both sides of the House, and it seems that, sadly, women in particular—women of colour—are…14 Jul 2021HANSARD Racist Abuse on Social MediaI completely agree with the right hon. Lady, the Chair of the Home Affairs Committee. I do not think these tech companies quite understand the anger and frustration of everyone…14 Jul 2021HANSARD Racist Abuse on Social MediaMy hon. Friend has identified the opportunity for the Government, and indeed the House, in the Online Safety Bill. The powers-that-be in the tech companies are no doubt watching…14 Jul 2021HANSARD Racist Abuse on Social MediaMy hon. Friend is absolutely right in describing that Bill as necessary and required. I think that in 10 or 15 years’ time we will look back on this era of the internet, and with…14 Jul 2021HANSARD Racist Abuse on Social MediaI suspect I am not the only person who feels a little astonished that it is this right hon. Member who chose to ask that question about taking immediate action to tackle racism. I…14 Jul 2021HANSARD Racist Abuse on Social MediaYes, I am very happy to confirm that of course we are looking at legal but harmful material. Let me draw the House’s attention to the fact that the Online Safety Bill is a really…14 Jul 2021HANSARD Racist Abuse on Social MediaI completely agree with my hon. Friend, and I am delighted to hear that the football team have received such support in her constituency—I suspect that that is the experience of…14 Jul 2021HANSARD Racist Abuse on Social MediaI am very happy to do that. I should point out that a huge programme of work continues, including the online crime hub run by the police, which we help to fund. Campaigns that…14 Jul 2021HANSARD Racist Abuse on Social MediaI most certainly do agree. In fairness, as the House would expect, I should say that we do a lot of work with online companies across a great range of subjects. Indeed, only…14 Jul 2021HANSARD Racist Abuse on Social MediaI do not have a timeframe to hand, but I will happily write to the hon. Gentleman on that. May I thank him, as a Man City fan and a Member of Parliament for one of the greatest…14 Jul 2021HANSARD Racist Abuse on Social MediaI think my hon. Friend is referring to the early analysis by the Premier League. I hope he will be reassured by the fact that we are looking into this with some urgency. Given…14 Jul 2021