King Charles has delivered the Labour government’s first King’s Speech in the House of Lords today; detailing a new data preservation process that will enable coroners to access online information about a child when investigating their death.
The news means tech firms could be forced to hand over social media profile data, and was welcomed by Ian Russell, Chair of the Molly Rose Foundation (MRF).
He said: “We hugely welcome the Government’s commitment to give a legal right to bereaved parents to access their child’s data. No parent should be denied information about whether social media contributed to their child’s death.
“However the Government must now go further and impose a Duty of Candour on tech companies that would make it an offence for them to impede, frustrate or delay a coroner’s investigation.
“We’ve already seen how some companies choose to drag their heels when supplying user data, and that’s why it’s essential the so-called Hillsborough Law should also apply to social media companies.”
A reported AI Bill was not announced during the State Opening of Parliament, but the King’s Speech set out how the Government would “seek to establish the appropriate legislation to place requirements on those working to develop the most powerful artificial intelligence models”.
Ian said: “AI regulation is urgently needed to prevent tech companies from failing to invest in safety from the outset, and to stop a new wave of harmful suicide and self-harm risks affecting the next generation of children.
“Successive governments were too slow to respond to the risks posed by social media and the result was the flood of inherently preventable harm that we know has cost young lives.
“History cannot be allowed to repeat itself, and that’s why it’s important the Government now makes swift progress on AI regulation that makes children’s safety a prerequisite not an afterthought.”
This week Labour vowed to toughen online safety laws after campaigners and parents accused Ofcom of being too soft on technology companies.
The MRF was one of 23 groups criticising the regulator for failing to fully implement the legislation. Science and technology secretary Peter Kyle told The Times the government is committed to “building on the Online Safety Act”, though added that there was “more to do.”
Ian added: “Today’s announcement is a downpayment on the most important step that the new Government can take to protect children, stronger and more effective online safety regulation.
“Regulation is the most effective way to prevent the devastation of further young lives, but it’s becoming increasingly clear that an entirely new Online Safety Act is required.
“We strongly welcome the new Secretary of State’s commitment to strengthen regulation. Recent MRF polling shows an overwhelming majority of parents want fresh legislation to be introduced as a priority*.”
[*84% parents with a child under 18 as per polling conducted by YouGov]
