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FACEBOOK FAIL?

Minister forced to deny giving in to pressure from web giants as it emerges new rules for Facebook and Twitter will be voluntary

Karen Bradley says social media firms will be asked to pay a levy to pay for the cost of web bullying

Karen Bradley said she wanted Britain to be the safest place in the world online

THE CULTURE Secretary was today forced to deny “backing away” from plans to introduce tough new laws cracking down on social media abuse.

Karen Bradley revealed that firms such as Facebook and Twitter could be asked to pay out a levy to meet the cost of tackling online bullying.

 The Government has denied bowing to the wishes of web firms such as Mark Zuckerberg's Facebook
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The Government has denied bowing to the wishes of web firms such as Mark Zuckerberg's FacebookCredit: AP:Associated Press

But she admitted that a new code of conduct will be voluntary - even though the Tories promised to pass new legislation targeting web giants in their election manifesto.

The manifesto said: “We will create a power in law for Government to introduce an industry-wide levy from social media companies and communication service providers to support awareness and preventative activity to counter internet harms, just as is already the case with the gambling industry.”

Today’s announcement includes a levy on firms and regular reports from companies detailing what they have done to tackle abuse on their websites.

Ms Bradley said she wants the new rules to come in “on a voluntary basis” - despite the Conservatives’ pledge to write it into law.

 Karen Bradley said she wanted Britain to be the safest place in the world online
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Karen Bradley said she wanted Britain to be the safest place in the world onlineCredit: PA:Press Association

When she appeared on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, host John Humphrys asked: “It’s rather less than you promised in your manifesto, isn’t it?”

The Culture Secretary replied: “We’re consulting on how best to do this, I would very much like to do it without legislation.

“Taking legislation through the House of Commons and the House of Lords is not the easiest way to do this.”

She was then accused of “backing away” from the previous pledge under “pressure from the internet companies” to take a softer line.

Ms Bradley said: “It’s not backing away at all, it’s saying what is the best way to do this?

“If we can do this without legislating - which is quicker, more effective - gets a better result, let’s not put ideology in front of delivering.”

Labour's deputy leader Tom Watson said: "The Culture Secretary seems to have bowed to pressure from the social media giants before her strategy had even been published.

“The Tories made a clear and unambiguous promise in their manifesto to bring forward legislation to compel social media providers and other internet firms to pay a levy - but it’s now been watered down to a voluntary levy."

Yesterday the head of regulator Ofcom told MPs she wants social media firms to face the same laws as newspapers and TV stations, making them responsible for all the content posted on their sites.

Facebook, Twitter and Google are under growing pressure because of their use for violent terror as well as online bullying.

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