Ministers are set to unveil a tough new crackdown to block harmful websites so children are not exposed to cyberbullying, pornography and self-harm images online
- Ofcom will be given the power to ensure the removal of child abuse images
- Online companies will need to sign up and agree to a duty of care for minors
- If youngsters are exposed to cyberbullying, porn and self-harm content, companies can be prosecuted or fined
Ministers will today unveil greater powers to block harmful websites in a bid to protect children.
They will give the broadcasting regulator Ofcom wide authority to ensure child abuse images and posts promoting terror are taken down.
Online firms will have to sign up to a new duty of care – with the threat of huge fines or prosecution if they fail to protect youngsters from cyberbullying, pornography and pages which glorify self-harm.
Online firms will have to sign up to a new duty of care – with the threat of astronomic fines or prosecution if youngsters are exposed to yberbullying, pornography and pages which glorify self-harm
Ofcom will draw up guidelines to tell online companies which content they can and cannot have on their sites.
And they could also be given the legal power to force internet service providers to take down sites deemed harmful.
The plans could prove controversial, because they will give a state body the ability to effectively police content on the web.
Baroness Morgan, pictured here yesterday outside number 10 Downing Street, has promised that editorial content will not be affected by the new plans
Culture Secretary Baroness Morgan has promised that ‘journalistic or editorial content’ will not be affected.
But the new rules were welcomed by child safety campaigners.
John Carr, of the UK Council for Child Internet Safety, called the move ‘a key step forward’.