Tory rebels push for stronger online safety laws

Rishi Sunak is facing another backbench rebellion as more than 40 MPs have demanded tougher laws to protect children accessing pornography.

The Telegraph reported 43 Tory rebels – enough to overturn the government’s majority – have written to Michelle Donelan, the Culture Secretary, demanding amendments to the Online Safety Bill (OSB).

Crucially, the rebels are pushing for age verification to be implemented to protect children from porn websites and on social media within six months of the OSB receiving Royal Assent.

The rebels also want tougher penalties for companies failing to introduce age checks, including the possibility of their services being blocked in the UK.

In the letter, the MPs also told the Secretary of State that the current plans failed to require sufficiently robust age checks by social media firms.

Children use social media platforms like Twitter, Instagram and Reddit to view pornography more than adult websites.

An amendment, strongly supported by CARE, enacting the changes has been tabled in the Lords by Lord Bethell and received strong support from Peers during Second Reading earlier this week.