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UK Government Considers Internet Ombudsman to Combat Online Abuse

Chloe Henderson

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online abuse

The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport has confirmed that a digital ombudsman is in the works. 

UK ministers are considering creating an internet ombudsman to deal with complaints about hate crimes and online abuse, according to the Guardian. They are also pressing ahead with proposals to impose a levy on social media companies to help pay for the policing of online offences.

The Department for Digital, Culture, Media, and Sport (DCMS) is overseeing the suggestions before the release of its autumn green paper, aimed at making Britain the “safest country in the world for children and young people to be online.” The ombudsman would deal with complaints about online material, including hate speech, targeted abuse, and violent threats. The levy was first suggested in the Conservative Party’s election manifesto to help raise funds for the rising cost of online law enforcement.

The DCMS’ strategy for online safety is expected to be published in September, with Minister of State for Digital and Culture Matt Hancock drafting the final recommendations. It will also consider the suggestions put forward by children’s commissioner for England, Anne Longfield, in her prospective children’s digital ombudsman outlined in Growing Up Digital.

A spokesperson for DCMS said: “We are determined to make Britain the safest place in the world to be online, and to help people protect children from the risks they might face. Later this year we will publish the government’s internet safety strategy, and a levy on social media companies is one of a series of measures that we are considering as part of our work.” They also confirmed to the Guardian that an internet ombudsman is currently in the works.

The Crown Office in Scotland published guidelines for social media prosecution in December 2014, establishing a number of online communications that amount to criminal offences, including harassment and ‘revenge porn.’

Chloe Henderson

Staff Writer - DIGIT

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