Source · Select Committees · Petitions Committee
Second Report - Tackling online abuse
Petitions Committee
HC 766
Published 1 February 2022
Recommendations
13
Deferred
Para 60
The Online Safety Bill should retain the provision in the draft Bill to hold platforms...
Recommendation
The Online Safety Bill should retain the provision in the draft Bill to hold platforms liable for failing to consistently enforce their terms of service. We heard that this step would significantly improve users’ online experiences—especially those users most likely …
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Government Response Summary
The government states it will continue to keep the recommendation for a stronger legislative framework for legal but harmful content under consideration, while outlining existing Online Safety Bill provisions for child safety, Category 1 services, and Ofcom's enforcement role.
18
Deferred
Para 81
We support the proposals in the Law Commission’s hate crime review to extend aggravated hate...
Recommendation
We support the proposals in the Law Commission’s hate crime review to extend aggravated hate crime offences across all characteristics protected under existing hate crime legislation, and to reform the ‘hostility’ motivation test to better reflect the nature of some …
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Government Response Summary
The government states it is carefully considering the recommendations set out in the Law Commission’s final report on Hate Crime Laws, including those to extend aggravated offences and reform the hostility motivation test, and will shortly publish a new strategy.
19
Deferred
Para 82
We recommend that the Government accepts the Law Commission’s proposals to extend the characteristics to...
Recommendation
We recommend that the Government accepts the Law Commission’s proposals to extend the characteristics to which aggravated hate crime offences can apply, and to reform the motivation test for hate crimes to include prejudice as well as hostility; and that …
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Government Response Summary
The government states it is carefully considering the Law Commission’s recommendations on hate crime laws and will shortly publish a new strategy for tackling hate crime. They did not respond to the specific ask of extending characteristics and reforming the motivation test.
21
Deferred
Alongside the introduction of the new communications offences, we recommend that the Government ensures the...
Recommendation
Alongside the introduction of the new communications offences, we recommend that the Government ensures the police and other law enforcement bodies have adequate resources to effectively investigate and prosecute communications, hate crime, and Violence Against Women and Girls offences committed …
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Government Response Summary
The government thanked the Committee and stated it is carefully considering the recommendations from the Law Commission’s report on 'Hate Crime Laws' and will shortly publish a new strategy to tackle hate crime, including online elements.
Conclusions (1)
20
Conclusion
Deferred
Para 85
Improvements in the drafting of the criminal law are irrelevant if these offences are not enforced. Many witnesses suggested the police did not have the resources they needed to be able to effectively investigate online abuse and hate crime. This undermines the important role played by the criminal law as …
Government Response Summary
The government acknowledges the concern about enforcement and police resources, stating it is carefully considering relevant recommendations from the Law Commission and will shortly publish a new strategy for tackling hate crime.