Source · Select Committees · Foreign Affairs Committee
Recommendation 53
53
Rejected
The Government should amend the Online Safety Act to oblige social media companies to provide...
Recommendation
The Government should amend the Online Safety Act to oblige social media companies to provide transparency of user location. This should include publicly available information about 1) the region an account was created; 2) the region the account is based; and 3) whether the connection to the platform was via a Virtual Private Network (VPN). 93 Social media companies should also be obliged to provide an opt-out function to safeguard users under the threat of transnational repression. (Recommendation, Paragraph 233)
Government response summary AI-generated
The government explicitly disagrees with amending the Online Safety Act, citing legitimate reasons for VPN use and confidence that the current Act effectively addresses online harms, including those associated with transnational repression. It will continue to monitor the Act's effectiveness.
Summary of the government's response below — read the verbatim text to verify.
Government Response
Rejected
HM Government · verbatim extract
Rejected
96. The Online Safety Act provides one of the strongest online safety frameworks in the world, placing clear duties on platforms to tackle illegal content, including electoral offences, harassment and abuse, and related harms, including where it is AI-generated. 97. There are legitimate reasons for people to use VPNs, including protecting their privacy and keeping personal data secure. The use of a VPN does not automatically indicate malicious activity, nor does the lack of a VPN connection guarantee confidence in an account’s declared location. The Government continues to monitor the use of VPNs on the effectiveness of the Online Safety Act and will consider other options if necessary. Any intervention must be proportionate and evidence based. 98. We recognise and are concerned about the threat of transnational repression online but are confident that the Online Safety Act strikes the right balance in requiring platforms to mitigate against online behaviours, including threats to kill, harassment and stalking, controlling or coercive behaviour and communications offences (threatening or false communications), commonly associated with transnational repression. Nevertheless, the Government will continue to keep the Online Safety Act under review to ensure it is fit for purpose.
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