Liz Truss, the new UK Prime Minister, could be set to amend the landmark Online Safety Bill designed to make the internet safer.

The Prime Minister has responded to concerns from Conservative MPs about its regulatory over-reach and restrictions on free speech.

Measures in the bill include tougher and quicker criminal sanctions for tech bosses and new criminal offences for falsifying and destroying data.

It also aims to protect internet users, which is becoming a more pressing issue as the world becomes more tech-savvy and threat actors look to take advantage of increasing online activity.

The Government said that the Online Safety Bill “marks a milestone in the fight for a new digital age” which aims to protect children from harmful content such as pornography and limit people’s exposure to illegal content, while protecting freedom of speech.

In its current form, the proposed bill could force tech platforms such as Google, Facebook and Twitter to take more responsibility to tackle harmful content— ranging from issues such as threatening behaviour to racist and sexual abuse.

The bill was put on hold until later this year as the race for Boris Johnson’s replacement got under way.

Reports emerged that it would be removed from Commons business to facilitate space for a motion of no confidence in the government.

The pause was a relief both for opponents of the bill and for companies that could be negatively affected by it.

Truss confirmed earlier this week she intends to alter the plans when the delayed bill returns to the House of Commons in the current parliamentary session.

A major sticking point for Truss is the continuation of free speech, an area in which she says the bill may be currently falling short.

“What I want to make sure is we protect the under-18s from harm, but we also make sure free speech is allowed, so there may be some tweaks required,” she said.

Officials have been working to change the definition of what is deemed “legal but harmful” under the proposed legislation, according to the Financial Times (FT), to provide greater scope to say online what would be acceptable in person even if someone deems it offensive.

The FT noted that Truss told a Tory leadership campaign event this summer that “where it’s about adults being able to speak freely, they absolutely should be, and it should be the same online as offline”.

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Another official said that ministers wanted “to play down the controversy over people theoretically getting into trouble over what they say… some people in the party have been worried about the free-speech aspects”.

He added: “Ironically some of them have come to realise that there are more supporters of the bill than visceral opponents. But some of the latter have been misinterpreting the bill. What we are talking about here is seriously abusive behaviour like racism or misogyny.”

In March this year, Online Safety Bill changes were suggested to combat the growing threat of scam advertising and fraud online.

The changes could include wider reform of online advertising regulations, and greater powers for regulators to tackle harmful, offensive, and misleading adverts.

Additionally, the Government said it was looking to clamp down on fraud and told influencers that failing to declare payments on product promotions could bring tougher penalties than before.

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