Thread by @OnlineSafetyCom

THREAD 🧵 Our 6️⃣th public evidence session has started ⬇️

First up, impacts on freedom of expression w/

🗣️ @RichardAWilson7 @UConnLaw
🗣️ @SilkieCarlo @BigBrotherWatch
🗣️ @MatthewdAncona @tortoise
🗣️ Barbora Bukovska @article19org

Watch live here 📺 parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/4d…

There is a problem with online abuse and law enforcement. But with Clause 11 in the Bill, this is one of the most dangerous pieces of legislation for freedom of speech, says witness @SilkieCarlo @BigBrotherWatch bigbrotherwatch.org.uk/2021/09/govern…

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Barbora Bukovska @article19org says the need for regulation is definitely there, but the balance is not struck. Beyond content moderation, the dominant business model of these companies needs to be addressed.

@RichardAWilson7 @UConn describes how a US judgment has found that Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act protects content on platforms, but not content algorithms - so there is space for regulation here

@SilkieCarlo @BigBrotherWatch says the problem lies within microtargeted advertising, reforms should be focused on that and how it changes what people see online

@MrJohnNicolson asks @RichardAWilson7 if, as a result of the #OnlineSafetyBill, there are overzealous take-downs of LGBT+ content? Professor Wilson agrees this should be under constant review.

@SilkieCarlo tells @MrJohnNicolson that both LGBT+ users, and gender-critical feminists, are being censored online, in an erratic way, usually responding to press criticism and public coverage

The #OnlineSafetyBill is aligning domestic British communications law with the values of Silicon Valley big tech companies, @SilkieCarlo tells @MrJohnNicolson

Lord Black of Brentwood asks if there is a risk of double-regulation for press content carried on social media platforms?

@RichardAWilson7 says no, the #OnlineSafetyBill largely exempts mainstream news publications. His concern is outlets linked to foreign governments

Lord Black asks the witnesses what they think about the powers of the @DCMS Secretary of State.

@RichardAWilson7 @UConnLaw says he thinks they are particularly concerning for freedom of speech, and for @Ofcom's independence - the regulator should have more independence

@SilkieCarlo is particularly concerned about Clause 46 (2)(b)(i) of the #OnlineSafetyBill that gives the @DCMS Secretary of State the power to determine what is legal but harmful @BigBrotherWatch

Lord Clement-Jones asks if the risk-assessment process in the #OnlinesafetyBill is workable?

@MatthewdAncona says he is struck by the scale of the #OnlineSafetyBill, and agrees with @RichardAWilson7 that we should begin with a narrow spectrum of risk and build on from there

@SilkieCarlo tells @Debbie_Abrahams she supports opening up algorithms on a systems level to transparency, but in the context of the #OnlineSafetyBill, defining what types of content shouldn't be distributed is dangerous

In response to @Debbie_Abrahams, @RichardAWilson7 says it would be a great contribution to government if the #OnlineSafetyBill allows algorithmic transparency.

@MatthewdAncona tells Baroness Kidron that there is no immediate precedent in human history to a 'Twitter pile-on'. That may mean 'harmful content' needs to be redefined to account for virality, but the #OnlineSafetyBill doesn't sufficiently do that.

Now joining the Committee to discuss the impact of the #OnlineSafetyBill on freedom of the press are witnesses

🗣️ Peter Wright @DMGTplc
🗣️ @AlisonGow @EditorsUK
🗣️ @MattRogerson @Guardian
🗣️ Gavin Millar QC @MatrixChambers

Watch live here 📺 parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/4d…

Peter Wright @DMGTplc and @AlisonGow @EditorsUK tell Chair @DamianCollins they support a 'positive exemption' for news media publishers from the #OnlineSafetyBill

Gavin Millar @MatrixChambers thinks the #OnlineSafetyBill should not include illegal content, as platforms won't be able to deal with it.

The Bill should clearly define what legal but harmful content it seeks to address, with a clear process of redress for those harmed

@MattRogerson @Guardian tells @Dean4Watford that we need to understand how platform's content algorithms work, both to understand harms, but also commercial and competition issues

Peter Wright highlights that @DMGTplc's written evidence submission to our inquiry proposes how content algorithms can detect if content is journalism committees.parliament.uk/writtenevidenc…

In response to @LordJimKnight asking about the protection of democratic debate in the #OnlineSafetyBill, Peter Wright @DMGTplc says that in light of the death of Sir David Amess, some candidates receiving abuse could receive additional protections online

We are now joined by two last witnesses today to discuss the psychological impact of being online:

🗣️ @JimSteyer @CommonSense
🗣️ Professor @JonHaidt @NYUStern

Watch live here 📺 parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/4d…

@JonHaidt tells Baroness Kidron that the basic premise of Facebook is harmful to young girls, as revealed in the @WSJ #FacebookFiles. We should treat them like regular businesses and remove liability protections until they have professional standards wsj.com/articles/faceb…

"Our motto at @CommonSense is 'sanity not censorship'. It's insanity to leave these decisions up to the like of Mark Zuckerberg" @JimSteyer tells Baroness Kidron

"Facebook's motto was 'Move Fast and Break Things.' They did, the broke our kids and they're breaking our democracy," Professor @JonHaidt @NYUStern tells @Dean4Watford, "they are the British East India Company"

After a decade of non-action from government, don't be shy with the #OnlineSafetyBill says @JimSteyer

You should invest in digital literacy and digital citizenship from kindergarten onwards, says @JimSteyer. @JonHaidt adds that to break the #SocialDilemma, we need to make companies liable for children being on their platforms @CommonSense @NYUStern

That concludes our evidence session today - thank you for joining us