{"id":602145,"date":"2023-01-28T07:49:10","date_gmt":"2023-01-28T13:49:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.sellorbuyhomefast.com\/index.php\/2023\/01\/28\/lords-question-extensive-government-online-safety-powers\/"},"modified":"2023-01-28T07:49:10","modified_gmt":"2023-01-28T13:49:10","slug":"lords-question-extensive-government-online-safety-powers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2023\/01\/28\/lords-question-extensive-government-online-safety-powers\/","title":{"rendered":"Lords question \u2018extensive\u2019 government online safety powers"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"content-header\">\n<h2>Digital minister Paul Scully defends government Online Safety plans to give secretary of state powers to direct Ofcom<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"content-center\">\n<ul>\n<li><i data-icon=\"1\"><\/i><\/li>\n<li><i data-icon=\"2\"><\/i><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div id=\"contributors-block\">\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.ttgtmedia.com\/rms\/computerweekly\/Sebastian-Klovig-Skelton-CW-contributor.jpg\" alt=\"Sebastian Klovig Skelton\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<p><span>By<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.techtarget.com\/contributor\/Sebastian-Klovig-Skelton\">Sebastian Klovig Skelton,<\/a><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Senior reporter<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>\n\tPublished: <span>27 Jan 2023 10:15<\/span>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<section id=\"content-body\">\n<p>Safeguards will be written into the Online Safety Bill to ensure the secretary of state does not unduly interfere with the work or independence of online harms regulator Ofcom, digital minister Paul Scully has told a Lords committee.<\/p>\n<p>Under the draft Online Safety Bill, which was first published in May 2021 but has <a href=\"https:\/\/www.computerweekly.com\/news\/252528153\/Online-Safety-Bill-returns-to-Parliament\">since undergone numerous changes<\/a>, the secretary of state for the Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) has the power to direct Ofcom\u2019s regulatory priorities and to modify its codes of practice for tech firms for reasons of public safety, national security and \u201cpublic policy\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>The proposed powers have attracted criticism from both <a href=\"https:\/\/www.computerweekly.com\/news\/252525462\/Online-Safety-Bill-needs-complete-overhaul-say-rights-groups\">civil society<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/publications.parliament.uk\/pa\/cm5803\/cmselect\/cmcumeds\/271\/report.html\">lawmakers<\/a>, who have argued they would undermine Ofcom\u2019s independence as a regulator; allow the secretary to avoid Parliamentary scrutiny; and generally make the process vulnerable to the whims of whatever government is in power.<\/p>\n<p>Responding to such criticisms in July 2022, then-digital minister Nadine Dorries said in a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theyworkforyou.com\/wms\/?id=2022-07-07.hlws190.h\">written statement<\/a> that government recognises concerns about the degree of executive control the powers would allow, and has therefore built in a \u201cnumber of safeguards\u201d to ensure Ofcom\u2019s independene.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe will make two substantive changes to this power: first, we will make it clear that this power would only be used \u2018in exceptional circumstances\u2019; and secondly, we will replace the \u2018public policy\u2019 wording with a more clearly defined list of reasons for which the Secretary of State could issue a direction,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis list will comprise national security, public safety, public health, the UK\u2019s international relations and obligations, economic policy and burden to business.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Addressing the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.parliamentlive.tv\/Event\/Index\/759eaddd-0dd9-4b81-b2e7-09049d4a4a40\">Lords Communications and Digital Committee on 25 January 2023<\/a> \u2013 where the consensus is that such powers are \u201cunnecessarily extensive\u201d \u2013 Scully said they were necessary because there are certain instances (such as during an unfolding national security incident) where the government has access to information the regulator simply does not.<\/p>\n<p>Orla McRae, deputy director of online harms regulation at DCMS, said the proposed powers will provide flexibility, because the fast-moving nature of the technology sector makes it difficult to predict every future harm or challenge posed by technology, and are a recognition that there are situations where the government has more information and is better placed to deal with them.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s not about interfering with Ofcom\u2019s independence but simply providing checks and balances to ensure the implementation of the regulation is as Parliament intended,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<p>Asked whether the government considered adopting a more conventional approach to its relationship with Ofcom (for example, by limiting the powers to clear emergency situations or engaging in open and transparent dialogue with the regulator over specific concerns), Scully said there are certain situations \u201clike national security, where that may not be an appropriate approach\u201d, adding that Parliament would still be able to have its say.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe want to make sure that \u2026 the reason for the modification has to be laid before Parliament to make sure it is as transparent as we can possibly make it, and that we can only use the power at the point that the code is submitted to be laid in Parliament, rather than any time in the process,\u201d he said, reiterating that the powers would only be used under \u201cexceptional circumstances\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>However, multiple Lords questioned the necessity of the government\u2019s proposed powers, and challenged its definition of what constitutes an exceptional circumstance, particularly the secretary of state\u2019s ability to direct Ofcom for \u201ceconomic policy and burden to business\u201d reasons.<\/p>\n<p>Lord Lipsey, for example, expressed concerns that, in practice, a secretary of state could be influenced behind closed doors by their associates in the private sector to change Ofcom\u2019s codes in a way that benefits their business.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cParliament, which is supposed to govern this nation, doesn\u2019t get a look-in \u2013 it\u2019s entirely private business between Ofcom and the secretary of state,\u201d he said, adding that the proposal \u201ccannot possibly survive\u201d because many in Parliament will simply vote against it. \u201cWe won\u2019t accept this,\u201d said Lipsey. \u201cIt isn\u2019t a runner \u2026 you won\u2019t get this through as it is.\u201d<\/p>\n<section data-menu-title=\"Open consultation process\">\n<h3><i data-icon=\"1\"><\/i>Open consultation process<\/h3>\n<p>In response, McRae said it was important to note that directing Ofcom to modify its codes of practice would come at the end of an extensive open consultation process, \u201cincluding with a specified list of external people\u201d, meaning everyone will be aware of what was in the draft codes before the secretary of state can get involved.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOnce that direction is issued, there is a process of transparency to ensure that it is clear the reasons for that direction and clear what Ofcom has done in response to it,\u201d she said. \u201cAnd there is the provision that prohibits secretaries of state from requiring specific measures be inserted into the code.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Lord Lipsey further added that because the secretary of state gets to decide what constitutes an exceptional circumstance, important decisions will be made before they ever see the light of day in Parliament. \u201cIf Parliament \u2026 ever wants to question whether it\u2019s exceptional, yes, we have a say then, but by then it\u2019s water under the bridge,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>Both McRae and Scully said government would listen to the concerns about the powers before tabling amendments to formally define \u201cexceptional circumstances\u201d, but that it is still the intention to press forward with changes in line with what Dorries set out in her written statement in July 2022.<\/p>\n<p>On 17 January 2023, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.computerweekly.com\/news\/252529363\/UK-seeks-to-ban-sharing-positive-Channel-crossing-videos-online\">digital minister Michelle Donelan announced new amendments to the Bill<\/a>, one introducing criminal liability for tech bosses over failures to protect children online, and another linking existing immigration offences to the Bill\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.computerweekly.com\/news\/252513036\/Government-expands-tech-firms-obligations-in-Online-Safety-Bill\">list of \u201cpriority offences\u201d<\/a> \u2013 those which represent the most serious and prevalent illegal content or activity online, and which tech firms will be obliged to proactively prevent people from being exposed to.<\/p>\n<p>The latter amendment means technology companies could be forced to remove videos of people crossing the English Channel \u201cwhich show that activity in a positive light\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>Donelan confirmed in a <a href=\"https:\/\/questions-statements.parliament.uk\/written-statements\/detail\/2023-01-17\/hcws500\">statement<\/a> that \u201cthe result of this amendment would therefore be that platforms would have to proactively remove that content\u201d related to English Channel crossings.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"DigDeeperSplash\">\n<h4>\n\t\t\t<i data-icon=\"m\"><\/i>Read more on IT legislation and regulation<\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li><a id=\"DigDeeperItem-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.computerweekly.com\/news\/252528153\/Online-Safety-Bill-returns-to-Parliament\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.ttgtmedia.com\/visuals\/ComputerWeekly\/Hero Images\/Westminster-sunset-fotolia_searchsitetablet_520X173.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.ttgtmedia.com\/visuals\/ComputerWeekly\/Hero%20Images\/Westminster-sunset-fotolia_searchsitetablet_520X173.jpg 960w,https:\/\/cdn.ttgtmedia.com\/visuals\/ComputerWeekly\/Hero%20Images\/Westminster-sunset-fotolia.jpg 1280w\" alt ><\/p>\n<h5>Online Safety Bill returns to Parliament<\/h5>\n<div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.ttgtmedia.com\/rms\/computerweekly\/Sebastian-Klovig-Skelton-CW-contributor.jpg\" alt=\"SebastianKlovig Skelton\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<p><span>By: <span>Sebastian\u00a0Klovig Skelton<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a id=\"DigDeeperItem-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.computerweekly.com\/news\/252527782\/Legal-but-harmful-clause-dropped-from-Online-Safety-Bill\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.ttgtmedia.com\/visuals\/ComputerWeekly\/Hero Images\/London-Westminster-Parliament-4-adobe_searchsitetablet_520X173.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.ttgtmedia.com\/visuals\/ComputerWeekly\/Hero%20Images\/London-Westminster-Parliament-4-adobe_searchsitetablet_520X173.jpg 960w,https:\/\/cdn.ttgtmedia.com\/visuals\/ComputerWeekly\/Hero%20Images\/London-Westminster-Parliament-4-adobe.jpg 1280w\" alt ><\/p>\n<h5>\u2018Legal but harmful\u2019 clause dropped from Online Safety Bill<\/h5>\n<div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.ttgtmedia.com\/rms\/computerweekly\/Sebastian-Klovig-Skelton-CW-contributor.jpg\" alt=\"SebastianKlovig Skelton\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<p><span>By: <span>Sebastian\u00a0Klovig Skelton<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a id=\"DigDeeperItem-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.computerweekly.com\/news\/252525462\/Online-Safety-Bill-needs-complete-overhaul-say-rights-groups\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.ttgtmedia.com\/visuals\/ComputerWeekly\/Hero Images\/Houses-of-parliament-fotolia_searchsitetablet_520X173.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.ttgtmedia.com\/visuals\/ComputerWeekly\/Hero%20Images\/Houses-of-parliament-fotolia_searchsitetablet_520X173.jpg 960w,https:\/\/cdn.ttgtmedia.com\/visuals\/ComputerWeekly\/Hero%20Images\/Houses-of-parliament-fotolia.jpg 1280w\" alt ><\/p>\n<h5>Online Safety Bill needs complete overhaul, say rights groups<\/h5>\n<div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.ttgtmedia.com\/rms\/computerweekly\/Sebastian-Klovig-Skelton-CW-contributor.jpg\" alt=\"SebastianKlovig Skelton\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<p><span>By: <span>Sebastian\u00a0Klovig Skelton<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a id=\"DigDeeperItem-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.computerweekly.com\/news\/252522607\/Social-media-must-do-more-to-block-harmful-content\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.ttgtmedia.com\/visuals\/ComputerWeekly\/Hero Images\/London-Westminster-Parliament-1-adobe_searchsitetablet_520X173.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.ttgtmedia.com\/visuals\/ComputerWeekly\/Hero%20Images\/London-Westminster-Parliament-1-adobe_searchsitetablet_520X173.jpg 960w,https:\/\/cdn.ttgtmedia.com\/visuals\/ComputerWeekly\/Hero%20Images\/London-Westminster-Parliament-1-adobe.jpeg 1280w\" alt ><\/p>\n<h5>Brits say social media must do more to block harmful content<\/h5>\n<div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.ttgtmedia.com\/rms\/computerweekly\/Karl-Flinders-profile-pic-2022-140x180px.jpg\" alt=\"KarlFlinders\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<p><span>By: <span>Karl\u00a0Flinders<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.computerweekly.com\/news\/252529613\/Lords-question-extensive-government-online-safety-powers\" class=\"button purchase\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Read More<\/a><br \/>\n Luz Mote<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Digital minister Paul Scully defends government Online Safety plans to give secretary of state powers to direct Ofcom By Sebastian Klovig Skelton, Senior reporter Published: 27 Jan 2023 10:15 Safeguards will be written into the Online Safety Bill to ensure the secretary of state does not unduly interfere with the work or independence of online<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":602146,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[32078,2833,46],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-602145","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-lords","category-question","category-technology"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/602145","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=602145"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/602145\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/602146"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=602145"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=602145"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=602145"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}