TikTok: Bereaved British Parents
Debate between Baroness Berger and Baroness Lloyd of Effra(1 week ago)
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The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Business and Trade and Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (Baroness Lloyd of Effra) (Lab)
We are aware of the case brought in the United States. No parent should have to go through what these parents have. Our deepest sympathies are with those affected. We have commenced powers through the Online Safety Act to require information from services about a child’s online activity in the tragic event of their death. We have also established a data preservation process to ensure that services preserve relevant data. We are committed to making those powers work effectively.
Baroness Berger (Lab)
My Lords, I thank my noble friend for her reply. Ellen Roome is one of a number of bereaved British parents who are suing TikTok. Ellen had been fighting for four years to get access to her son Jools’s social media account after he died performing a TikTok challenge. Digital data that should be preserved as evidence in the critical early period following a child’s death is not being requested and is routinely being deleted or lost. Justice must prevail. Will the Government ensure that there is automatic digital data preservation for every one of these tragedies so that they can be fully investigated?
Baroness Lloyd of Effra (Lab)
The Government are aware of calls to make the data preservation process faster. These are new powers and we are actively monitoring the effectiveness of the current process, working closely with Ofcom to do this. We are carefully considering any means that could allow relevant data to be preserved in a timely manner to ensure investigations are well informed and families get the answers they need.
Children: Social Media
Debate between Baroness Berger and Baroness Lloyd of Effra(1 month, 3 weeks ago)
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Baroness Berger
To ask His Majesty’s Government what consideration they have given to introducing a ban on social media for all children under the age of 16 similar to the one to be introduced in Australia on 10 December.
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Business and Trade and Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (Baroness Lloyd of Effra) (Lab)
We understand parents’ concerns about the impact of social media on children. We have taken some of the boldest steps globally to ensure that online content is genuinely age appropriate. It is important that we protect children while also letting them benefit safely from the digital world. We are closely monitoring Australia’s approach to age restrictions. When it comes to children’s safety, nothing is off the table, but any action must be based on robust evidence.
Baroness Berger (Lab)
My Lords, our children and young people are living through an experiment imposed on them by platforms that are profiting off their stress, their lack of sleep and their diminished self-worth. I welcome the Australian Government taking action to address the urgency and gravity of this issue. I listened closely to my noble friend the Minister. The impact on teenagers in this country is getting worse, not improving. Will the UK follow Australia, Norway, Denmark, Malaysia and the EU, and impose a ban on under-16s?
Baroness Lloyd of Effra (Lab)
We are taking serious action here in the UK through the Online Safety Act. We are also looking very carefully at the evidence that is available about the impacts of social media, screen time and media use on children’s development. At the moment, we do not see a causal relationship between screen time, social media use and children’s development, but we are committed to improving this evidence base. We are looking very closely at what other countries are doing, particularly Australia, with which we have an MoU.