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Online safety protections for children are “not up for negotiation” in US trade talks, a minister has said, amid speculation they could be watered down to avoid Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Treasury minister James Murray told Sky News Breakfast with Anna Jones that the “basic protections” in the Online Safety Act for under 18s are “things we want to keep”.
However, he appeared to leave the door open for wider concessions to the bill, which also includes measures to protect adult users.
Asked if the legislation could be altered, Mr Murray said: “Let me make a broader point about the Online Safety Act, because it’s really important for us to have those protections for children and vulnerable people online.
“Those important protections are not up for negotiation. Those basic protections are things we want to keep.
“But more broadly, we need to leave the negotiators with some space to conduct those negotiations and secure a deal.”
The strongest protections in the Online Safety Act apply to children.
The bill, passed by the Tories and being implemented this year, requires platforms to prevent them from accessing harmful and age-inappropriate content, like the promotion of eating disorders and pornography.
The act also requires tech firms to block illegal content for all users, and give adult users tools to have greater control over the kind of content they see.
It is being regulated by Ofcom, which can fine firms up to £18m – or 10% of their qualifying worldwide revenue – while criminal action can also be taken against senior managers if they are at fault.
Concern grows over online safety
Any move to water it down would likely provoke a backlash from Labour MPs, many of whom want to see the government go further with online safety protections, including a ban on social media for under-16s.
A source close to a group of backbenchers lobbying for tougher measures told Sky News on Thursday that it seemed “very obvious” US trade negotiations were impacting the government’s position, “not necessarily to the act itself but certainly in their resistance to do anything new despite significant public and political pressure”.
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