Thank you for contacting me about freedom of speech and the Online Safety Bill, I know people feel very strongly about this issue. The Online Safety Bill is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to implement a robust framework to allow everyone to use the internet safely.

As you know, the Bill will establish a duty of care on companies to improve the safety of users, overseen and enforced by Ofcom. I believe the Government has not struck the proper balance between free speech and regulation. Previously, its approach focused almost entirely on platforms taking down content while not specifying exactly what legal harms they would have to address.

The Government has recently removed the ‘legal but harmful’ provisions of the Bill so social media companies will not have to take down such content. I disagree with this decision and consider it a major weakening of the Bill. In my view, replacing the prevention of harm with an emphasis on free speech undermines its very purpose and will embolden abusers and hoaxers, who will feel encouraged to thrive online.

I would prefer to see the Bill tackling the business models, systems and policies that drive the impact of such harms rather than going after individual content. Currently, the business models of most social media companies are based on engagement. The more engagement, the more money made, which rewards controversy and sensationalism. Tackling this would strengthen the Bill while addressing questions about freedom of speech.

I also want to see Ofcom regulating based on risk level rather than size, as some smaller platforms can still have significant and harmful effects. I want to see the Government will reconsider this.

Additionally, I am concerned by the significant powers the current Bill gives to the Government, including what I believe to be the unjustified intrusion of Ministers into decisions about the regulation of speech and the independence of the regulator, Ofcom. Although we do not see eye-to-eye on this issue, I hope you will appreciate I have taken time to look into the points you raise.

I know the Opposition will continue to try and improve the Bill when it returns to Parliament in January. Thank you once again for contacting me about this issue.