Stone accuses Government of making 'a hash' of its Online Safety Bill but says legislation is 'heading in the right direction'
THE UK Government has made "a hash" of its Online Safety Bill but the legislation is "heading in the right direction," according to far north MP, Jamie Stone.
The Caithness, Sutherland and easter Ross MP and the Liberal Democrat spokesman on Digital and Media wants to ensure Scottish children are protected by the bill.
Mr Stone highlighted a constituent case where online bullying had taken place and where the school was approached but nothing was done. He is concerned that as education is devolved, there is a risk that the Online Safety Bill will fail children in the same position.
The MP criticised the Westminster Government on the delay in legislation which was promised in 2018 but he also welcomed changes to the bill that:
*Expand existing offences around sharing intimate images of someone to include those that are created digitally, also known as ‘deepfakes’.
*Create a new criminal offence of assisting or encouraging self-harm online.
*Implement Zach's Law which makes it illegal to send flashing images to someone with epilepsy.
Mr Stone said: "There are very few people that are in disagreement about the intention behind this bill. However, the Government has made a hash of it by not getting it right and not getting it done. This legislation was promised four years ago and still hundreds of amendments are being made to it. That being said, the bill is heading in the right direction."
He added: "A concern of mine is whether the UK and Scottish Governments will work together to ensure that the protections of this bill extend to work with devolved responsibilities. A young person in my constituency who has been experiencing online bullying so badly was overheard saying that they did not think they would make it to age 21. The school has been told but has done nothing to intervene.
"The Bill is well intentioned and it is essential that it makes a real impact. In the case of the young person I mentioned who is in a dark place right now, we must get it going pretty dashed quick.
"If implemented effectively, this bill has the potential to save lives, but that 'if' hangs heavily on co-operation between both UK and Scottish Governments."