I thank my right hon. Friend for his work on this, and Baroness Kidron for her work. I will cover that in more detail in a moment, but we remain committed to exploring measures that would facilitate better access to data for coroners under specific circumstances. We are looking for the best vehicle to do that, which includes those possibilities in the Data Protection and Digital Information Bill. We want to ensure that the protections for adult users afford people greater control over their online experience.
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The Bill will ensure that Ofcom has the powers it needs to ensure that coroners are provided with the information they need following such a tragedy. As well as my right hon. Friend and Baroness Kidron, that provision was also championed by Ian Russell and other bereaved parents with whom we have worked closely, to ensure that we get the right solution. I am grateful for their tireless efforts. We have made sure that we can address the concerns raised by Members about the risks relating to the design and functionality of
services, because this is a complicated issue, for a number of reasons that have been well rehearsed. The changes I have outlined will ensure that the Bill contains the strongest possible protections for children, that users’ rights to freedom of expression and privacy are protected, and that services are transparent and accountable.
Let me go into more detail on the Government amendments that were passed during the Bill’s passage through the Lords, and the amendments that I present to the House today. As I have said, child safety is a key priority in the Bill, and during its passage through the Lords we have further strengthened its protections for children. That has included placing the categories of “primary priority” and “priority” content that is harmful to children in the Bill. That will provide companies and Ofcom with explicit and early confirmation on the kind of content that children must be protected from, rather than addressing those issues later via secondary legislation. Providers of the largest services will also be required to publish summaries of their risk assessments for illegal content and content that is harmful to children. That will empower children and their parents or carers to clearly understand the risks to children presented by such services.
The Government listened to the views expressed in both Houses and introduced new offences in Committee that will more effectively hold technology companies to account if they fail to protect children. Ofcom will now be able to hold companies and senior managers, where they are at fault, criminally liable if the provider fails to comply with Ofcom’s enforcement notices in relation to specific child safety duties or to child sexual abuse and exploitation on their service.