Children: Age Verification and Virtual Private Networks Debate
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Lord Carlile of Berriew
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Children: Age Verification and Virtual Private Networks
Lord Carlile of Berriew Excerpts(1 day, 6 hours ago)
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Baroness Lloyd of Effra (Lab)
My noble friend makes a very important point about the role of all of us in using the technology available to protect ourselves and to equip ourselves to be safe online, and for parents to do that in respect of their children. It is also very important that the Government support literacy campaigns, both for digital skills and online safety. The Government will play their part in supporting parents in that domain.
Lord Carlile of Berriew (CB)
On the Radio 4 “Today” programme this morning, Ofcom admitted that none of the three fines levied so far has been paid. Is it not right that Ofcom should be encouraged to take much stronger enforcement action against those who do not pay by making it clear that within a very short time, they will lose their right to appear on any screen in the United Kingdom unless their enforcement is fit for purpose?
Baroness Lloyd of Effra (Lab)
I think we all agree that enforcement is an incredibly important part of the Online Safety Act. Ofcom’s enforcement powers include fines of up to £18 million, or 10% of qualifying worldwide revenue. The Government have been very clear to Ofcom that it has our full backing to take enforcement action. We are standing right behind it to do that as effectively as possible.