British online safety bill amended – Mehr News Agency | Iran and world’s news
According to the Mehr news agency, quoted by CNBC, the British online safety bill was originally introduced to deal with malicious and illegal content on social networks such as Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Twitter and Tic Tac.
In late 2021, the country’s legislators completed an investigation into how online platforms deal with such content, and concluded that more crimes such as self-harm, racism and fraudulent propaganda should be added to the scope of the law.
The British government said the bill now contains high-priority regulations that include the content of pornography, drug and arms trafficking, suicide promotion, human trafficking and other illegal crimes.
The law also targets people who send online threats and carries a penalty of up to five years.
The British government has said it is considering further recommendations, including adding crimes such as posting obscene images, trolling people with epilepsy, tracking fraudulent advertisements, and criminalizing senior executives at tech companies.
Of course, these amendments will be carefully considered by the British Parliament before they become law. These reforms change the way big tech companies react to toxic content on their platforms, hold them accountable for malicious content on their platforms, and force them to avoid exposing users to such criminal content. .
Violation of this law will result in a heavy fine of up to 10% of the annual income of companies or blocking of the platform in the country.
“The Internet can not be allowed to become an ideal haven for criminals to exploit people,” said British Home Secretary Pretty Patel. Companies must take responsibility for not displaying malicious content on their platforms. New measures make it faster and easier to deal with criminals and hold social networks accountable for violations.
According to the Guardian, cases such as joining large groups that write negative reviews in the digital space, and posting content about fake bomb threats are other offenses that have been added to the law.
The online safety bill is expected to be submitted to the British Parliament in the next few months. This law is designed to protect users against malicious content.