UK Science Minister Criticizes Online Safety Laws as 'Uneven' and Calls for Updates

Peter Kyle argues current legislation fails to adequately protect vulnerable users and urges more frequent updates to address evolving online harms.

Science Secretary Peter Kyle described the UK's Online Safety Act as 'unsatisfactory' and 'uneven,' citing gaps in addressing harmful but legal content.
Kyle emphasized the need for Parliament to legislate more regularly to keep pace with rapid technological changes like deepfakes.
Meta's decision to replace its fact-checking program with a 'community notes' system has sparked concerns over increased misinformation and harm to young users.
Campaigners, including Ian Russell of the Molly Rose Foundation, criticized the implementation of the Online Safety Act as inadequate and called for stronger protections.
Kyle reaffirmed the government's commitment to enforcing existing laws, stating that tech companies operating in the UK must comply with regulations to remove illegal content.