Source · Select Committees · Petitions Committee
Recommendation 12
12
Rejected
Paragraph: 55
We recommend that the Online Safety Bill requires smaller (non-category 1) platforms to take steps...
Recommendation
We recommend that the Online Safety Bill requires smaller (non-category 1) platforms to take steps to protect users from content that is legal but harmful to adults, with a particular focus on ensuring these platforms cannot be used to host content that has the potential to encourage hate or prejudice towards individuals or communities.
Government Response Summary
The government rejects requiring smaller platforms to tackle legal but harmful content to adults, stating it is not appropriate to mandate interference with legal content. They reaffirm the Bill's proportionate approach, which focuses these duties on high-reach Category 1 services.
Paragraph Reference:
55
Government Response
Rejected
HM Government
Rejected
The government agrees with this recommendation. The Online Safety Bill requires service providers in scope to identify, mitigate and effectively manage the risks associated with online anonymity on user-to-user services. As part of their risk assessments, all services will need to assess the functionality of anonymous and pseudonymous profiles and the role they play in allowing illegal and (for Category 1 services and services which are likely to be accessed by children) legal but harmful content to spread, and to implement appropriate protections.