Thread by @UoMPolicy

📣 Starting now!
Policy@Manchester are pleased to host experts incl @crimepsychblog @DonnaJonesPCC @helenmilner & @edvaizey and Susie Hargreaves of @iwfhotline at our #CPC22 digital harms panel. Follow this thread for live updates.

We start with our chair @stkaye introducing our panel.
Our panel today will discuss 'is smart tech a threat to your privacy and security.'
One of the preoccupations of todays conversation will be to debate if legislation has kept up with technology.

There is the real world that is becoming more digital and the digital world becoming more tangible @stkaye of @reformthinktank tells us.

He describes the difficult space between prevention and freedom regarding digital crimes.

Speaking first is @@helenmilner of @GoodThingsFdn

Helen describes how online safety is essential to digital inclusion. Shockingly 10 million people lack resources to engage digitally.

Fears about online safety are real but shouldn't be a barrier to people going online.

We cannot leave 10 million people behind. Education for children and adults must be part of any policy solution @helenmilner tells our audience.

Next up is @edvaizey
Important to emphasise the role of charities and action groups in shaping digital policy.

Policy makers and tech must work together @edvaizey tells us. Policymakers represent the public concerns about tech. Technology specialists address what is possible. It is important to listen to technology regarding what the online safety bill can achieve.

Next to speak at our digital harms panel at #CPC22 is @crimepsychblog

She will discuss the metaverse. A team she co-led produced a report examining the impact of extended reality on child exploitation and abuse.

This technology can amass a huge amount of data about you. Who is this data shared with, how is it shared asks @crimepsychblog

She describes studies that found VR headsets can be hacked.

Identity is also a risk. Deep fakes are possible.

Harassment is common in VR settings.

There are a whole range of issues coming over the horizon at us says @crimepsychblog ... There will be real challenges in moderating these.

Next up on this panel discussion is @DonnaJonesPCC
She asks the audience "do you know what your digital fingerprint is?"
Most of us will be completely unaware how much of our personal data is online. Our information is a valuable commodity - particularly to criminals.

The online safety bill is setting the pace - hopefully around the world" on how we can protect our children better @DonnaJonesPCC tells us.

Finally Susie Hargreaves of @iwfhotline discusses how there will always be those who exploit technology.
It's very hard to detect child abuse as it is being live streamed. The crime is already happening.

Susie Hargreaves says what we need government commitment to the online safety bill. The internet is a good thing to connect people but policy and tech must work together to ensure children are not compromised in any way @IWFhotline

Could it be that the complexity of delivering implementation of the online safety bill is too much for legislation to deal with asks @stkaye

Balancing freedom of speech but we cannot compromise with protecting children answers @DonnaJonesPCC

Audience questions:
Can there be unintended negative consequences from the online safety bill? Would it make more sense to make use of tools such as parental controls?
@DonnaJonesPCC - online content should be age rated. Gov can legislate but parents have a duty of care

And that's all from the digital harms panel! Many thanks to our great panellists @stkaye @edvaizey @crimepsychblog @helenmilner @DonnaJonesPCC and Susie Hargreaves!