Member

It is essential that we play catch-up with the pace of change online much faster than we are. It would be such a small step for the Government to now accept the principles of my amendment—not to have what some have called a blanket ban but for this merely to be used highly selectively and definitely not to apply to apps for particular vulnerable groups. The consultation can then be about how to effect this and learning over the next 12 months from Australia and the many other countries effecting similar measures. The rest of the consultation can then be about the equally urgent matters of AI companions and chatbots, VPNs and the other matters it covers. The Government have acted swiftly on pornography, nudification, intimate image abuse, cyber flashing, content that promotes self-harm and suicide, the preservation of data after the death of a child, and other areas. But on this, the Government have merely said in their amendment that they will make a statement about progress within six months. This commits them to nothing.