On-line security protections for kids are “not up for negotiation” in US commerce talks, a minister has mentioned, amid hypothesis they may very well be watered right down to keep away from Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Politics dwell: UK ‘regrets return to protectionism’, says Lammy
Nevertheless, he appeared to depart the door open for wider concessions to the invoice, which additionally contains measures to guard grownup customers.
Requested if the laws may very well be altered, Mr Murray mentioned: “Let me make a broader level in regards to the On-line Security Act, as a result of it is actually necessary for us to have these protections for kids and weak individuals on-line.
“Those important protections are not up for negotiation. Those basic protections are things we want to keep.
“However extra broadly, we have to depart the negotiators with some area to conduct these negotiations and safe a deal.”
The strongest protections within the On-line Security Act apply to kids.
The invoice, handed by the Tories and being carried out this yr, requires platforms to stop them from accessing dangerous and age-inappropriate content material, just like the promotion of consuming problems and pornography.
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Tariffs: UK ‘negotiating’ with US
The act additionally requires tech companies to dam unlawful content material for all customers, and provides grownup customers instruments to have higher management over the form of content material they see.
It’s being regulated by Ofcom, which might effective companies as much as £18m – or 10% of their qualifying worldwide income – whereas felony motion will also be taken in opposition to senior managers if they’re at fault.
Concern grows over on-line security
Any transfer to water it down would doubtless provoke a backlash from Labour MPs, lots of whom need to see the federal government go additional with on-line security protections, together with a ban on social media for under-16s.
There’s mounting concern about violent and sexist social media content material being served as much as kids, which has had renewed consideration following the discharge of the Netflix drama Adolescence
UK in search of commerce deal
On the similar time, Downing Road is in search of to strike a commerce cope with the US, which it hopes might lead to Mr Trump eradicating the ten% levy on UK imports he imposed this week as a part of a world bundle of tariffs.
Whereas the UK obtained off comparatively evenly in comparison with the likes of the EU’s 20% fee and far larger charges for China, it comes on prime of a 25% tariff on British automotive imports, with the measures prone to have an effect on British companies.
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Tech companies have beforehand hit out on the On-line Security Act, whereas US state officers have reportedly complained about its affect on free speech to Ofcom, based on The Guardian.
