1 Introduction
1. The internet is changing the way we communicate
and modifying the way we behave. A wealth of information and a
platform for myriad interactions, it is fostering creativity and
economic growth on an unprecedented scale. Sadly, inevitably,
the darker side of human nature finds expression too: in the commissioning,
distribution and viewing of illegal images of child abuse; in
adult material unshielded from children's eyes; in threatening
and abusive messages via social media. In the belief, sometimes
mistaken, that the internet offers anonymity, trolls and bullies
hound adults and children alike, often with tragic consequences.
The internet can amplify the pack mentality of the unthinking.
2. With these disparate concerns in mind, we decided
to launch an inquiry into online safety, taking care in our terms
of reference to keep distinct three very separate aspects:
· How best to protect minors from accessing
adult content;
· Filtering out (i.e. blocking and removing)
extremist material, including images of child abuse and material
intended to promote terrorism or other acts of violence;
· Preventing abusive or threatening comments
on social media.
3. We took oral evidence from the following: John
Carr, Secretary, Children's Charities' Coalition on Internet Safety;
Claire Lilley, Senior Analyst, NSPCC; Anthony Smythe, Managing
Director, BeatBullying; Susie Hargreaves, Chief Executive, Internet
Watch Foundation; Peter Davies, Director, Child Exploitation and
Online Protection (CEOP) Command, National Crime Agency; Stella
Creasy MP; Nicholas Lansman, Secretary General, Internet Services
Providers' Association; Dido Harding, Chief Executive Officer,
TalkTalk Group; Hamish Macleod, Chair, Mobile Broadband Group;
Jim Gamble, Independent Chair, City and Hackney Safeguarding Children
Board; Simon Milner, Policy Director, UK and Ireland, Facebook;
Sinéad McSweeney, Director, Public Policy, EMEA, Twitter
International Company; Tony Close, Director of Content Standards,
Licensing and Enforcement, Ofcom; Claudio Pollack, Group Director,
Content Consumer and External Affairs Group, Ofcom; Rt Hon Damian
Green MP, Minister of State for Policing, Criminal Justice and
Victims; Edward Vaizey MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State
for Culture, Communications and Creative Industries; Claire Perry
MP, Special Adviser to the Prime Minister on Preventing the Commercialisation
and Sexualisation of Childhood.
4. Many other organisations and individuals submitted
written evidence, among them charities representing children and
young people. Nevertheless, we felt it important to engage directly
with young people themselves. We were therefore grateful to the
following charities which, together with parents, organised a
visit to the House of Commons by eight young people ranging from
ages 16 to 25: Childline Services, CARE,[1]
Childnet International, Porn Scars, Safermedia and Brook. The
young people each gave us compelling and, at times, harrowing
accounts of the harmful experiences they had endured as a result
of online bullying and access to age-inappropriate material, particularly
adult pornography. We are very grateful to them for speaking
to us and, indeed, to all who provided evidence to our inquiry.
1 Christian Action Research and Education Back
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