Liberal Democrats warn Government do not have “their finger on the pulse” when keeping children safe online

For Immediate Release 

This morning, the Chief Executive of Ofcom Dame Melanie Dawes has told Laura Kuenssberg there may need to be changes to legislation in order to keep children safe online.

The Liberal Democrats are calling on the Government to raise the age at which big tech companies can collect children’s data from 13 to 16 as part of a wider plan to reduce the impact of addictive algorithms on children and young people.

The party is also calling for the introduction of a Safer Screens Taskforce as part of their campaign, that would hold all Government departments to account on enforcing a public health approach to screens and technology.

In response, the Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Technology Victoria Collins said: 

“This Government simply does not have their finger on the pulse when it comes to keeping our children safe online. For the sake of our young people, we cannot afford any delay in implementing proper measures to keep our children safe online.

“Experts, children and parents alike are clear that the impacts of social media are having catastrophic impacts on our children from exposure to inappropriate content to causing long-term smartphone addiction.

“That is why the Liberal Democrats are calling for the creation of a Safer Screens Taskforce, and to urgently put an end on social media companies harvesting the data of under 16s - tackling addictive algorithms at their source.” 

ENDS