The government is actively considering further measures to safeguard children online and will not “sit back and wait” on the matter, according to a cabinet minister.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander told the BBC that the forthcoming age-verification rules, set to begin later this month, are expected to have a “really important” impact.
She emphasized that these regulations, which will be overseen by media regulator Ofcom, would not represent the “end of the conversation” regarding online safety.
Ofcom Chief Executive Melanie Dawes pledged to rigorously enforce the new requirements, stating the regulator “means business.” However, she acknowledged that Ofcom may require additional legal powers to effectively address the rapidly evolving influence of artificial intelligence (AI).
Under the new powers granted by the Online Safety Act, passed by the previous Conservative government, Ofcom will mandate that internet companies implement stricter age verification methods to ascertain whether a user is under 18.
A new code of practice, scheduled to take effect on July 25, will also require platforms to modify algorithms that determine what is shown in children’s feeds, with the aim of filtering out harmful content.
During the last election, the Labour Party committed to “build on” the previous government’s legislation and explore further measures to ensure children’s safety.
However, the party has yet to introduce its own legislation, with ministers asserting that the existing set of new regulations must first be implemented.
Speaking on “Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg,” Ian Russell, whose daughter Molly tragically took her own life at 14 after encountering harmful content online, stated that the new rules should mark the “biggest moment in online safety” since the advent of social media.
He added that “the proof of the pudding is in what happens,” suggesting that Ofcom could go further within the legal powers it has been granted.
He also argued that the regulator should be prepared to “push back” against ministers regarding “weaknesses” in the legislation.
Alexander stated that the new rules would introduce “really robust safeguards” to ensure proper age verification.
However, she added, “We are very clear as a government that this is the foundation for a safer online experience for children, but it is not the end of the conversation.”
She said Technology Secretary Peter Kyle was looking at further action in a number of areas, including how to address “addictive habits” among children.
“We’re not going to be a government that sits back and waits on this; we want to address it,” she added.
While she did not provide further details, Kyle has previously indicated his desire to curb the “addictive nature” of apps and smartphones for children.
Proposals under consideration include a two-hour cap on the use of individual social media apps, and a 22:00 curfew.
Alexander added that the education secretary was reviewing guidance in England that allows individual headteachers to ban smartphones in schools.
The government has so far stopped short of legislating for a nationwide ban, voting down a Tory attempt to do so in March.
The transport secretary added that it was important to “get the balance right” on the issue, noting that some parents “want their kids to have a phone on their way to school”.
Shadow minister Chris Philp said he wished the previous Tory government had legislated to ban smartphones in schools during its 14 years in power.
He told Kuenssberg it was a “great shame” Labour had not backed a ban, adding: “As a dad myself, I am really concerned about this”.
Ofcom’s chief executive told the programme the new rules would mean tech platforms would have to change their content algorithms “very significantly”.
Ms Dawes said the regulator would give websites some flexibility when deciding which age-verification tools to use, but pledged that those failing to put adequate checks in place “will hear from us with enforcement action”.
However, she acknowledged some newer forms of AI “may not” be covered be powers contained in the existing legislation.
“There may need to be some changes to the legislation to cover that,” she added.
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