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UK Online Safety Bill Overview:
- Who: The UK government has announced that tech executives could face prosecution within two months after the Online Safety Bill becomes law.
- Why: The government has added stronger protections to the Online Safety Bill.
- Where: The Online Safety Bill has been presented to Parliament, which will have the opportunity to debate the bill before it becomes law.
On 16 March, the UK Government announced that, once the Online Safety Bill becomes law, tech executives could face prosecution within two months instead of two years as previously drafted in the bill.
CNBC reports that new offenses have been added to the Online Safety Bill to impose criminal sanctions on senior managers who destroy evidence, fail to attend interviews with the internet regulator Ofcom, provide false information or obstruct the watchdog when it enters their offices.
The bill seeks to create mandatory standards to be upheld by social media networks, search engines and other platforms that allow content sharing. Under the bill, the platforms must take steps to protect children, address illegal activity and uphold their terms and conditions.
The Online Safety Bill has been presented to Parliament and may become law before the end of the year.
“Tech firms haven’t been held to account when harm, abuse and criminal behavior have run riot on their platforms,” UK Digital Minister Nadine Dorries said. “Instead, they have been left to mark their own homework.”
If the Online Safety Bill becomes law, it will provide Ofcom with the authority to fine companies who fail to comply with the rules up to 10% of their global turnover. Based on Meta’s 2021 revenue figures, it could be fined up to $10 billion under the new law.
New Tech Safety Recommendations Included in Bill
The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport will adopt dozens of recommendations to the Online Safety Bill that were proposed last year by a joint committee. The committee recommended making the tech companies accountable for activities taking place on their online platforms, including extreme pornography, cyber flashing and the promotion of self-harm.
“I’m very glad to see that the government has adopted so many of our recommendations, ensuring we really will make the U.K. the safest place to be online in the world,” said Damian Collins, chair of the joint committee. “The era of self-regulation for Big Tech has finally come to an end.”
UK lawmakers will have the opportunity to debate parts of the bill before it becomes law.
Tech Companies Face Scrutiny in the UK
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has been monitoring Google’s third-party cookies in its Chrome web browser over concerns that it was monopolizing the advertising market. In response, Google developed a Privacy Sandbox program, which prohibits the tech giant from making changes that would provide the company with an advantage over competitors.
Earlier this year, the CMA approved Google’s second draft of the Privacy Sandbox program.
Additionally, TikTok is facing a proposed children’s privacy class action lawsuit filed by a 12-year-old girl who alleges TikTok unlawfully processes children’s data. If the case is successful, TikTok may be on the hook for billions of dollars in compensation.
What are your thoughts about the UK Online Safety Bill? Join the discussion in the comments section below!
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