Children and young people here in Llanelli and elsewhere should be able to use new technology without being exposed to sexual exploitation, abuse and grooming.
The evidence on online sexual exploitation is deeply concerning. We have to act now.
That is why I support the UK Labour Government’s announcement that it will prepare new legislation to strengthen protections for children online and tackle the growing threat of sexual exploitation and abuse.
The legislation will make it impossible for anyone under 18 to take, view or send nude images on their devices, with stronger device-level safeguards built into technology to help tackle grooming, exploitation and abuse.
Given the complexity of the issue, the Government will now take the time and care needed to ensure the legislation is properly designed and effective. However, it will be introduced as soon as possible.
The measures will see protections built into the technology itself, helping close gaps that can currently exist between different apps, platforms and device functions.
The Government is also clear that stronger protections must be delivered in a way that respects privacy, while ensuring that children cannot simply bypass safeguards by moving between different services.
The announcement forms part of a wider programme to make children safer online.
Earlier this year, they announced measures to ban social media companies from providing their services to under-16s, restrict some of the riskiest online features, including livestreaming and communications with strangers, and switch off features designed to keep users scrolling for longer by default for 16 and 17-year-olds.
Together, these measures will strengthen protections for children online and ensure there is no cliff edge in protections as young people move into their later teenage years.
In no other walk of life would we tolerate harming our children and young people, so why should we tolerate it online.