Safer Phones Bill to be discussed in Parliament this week

As we await the Online Safety Act's gradual entry into force, with Ofcom expected to finalise its first online safety codes by the end of this year, another law aiming to help protect children online is on the cards. Labour MP, Josh MacAlister, has announced a new ‘Safer Phones Bill’, which will be aimed at making smartphones less addictive for children, cutting down their screen time and improving their mental health, learning and real life interactions. The private member's bill is due to be discussed in Parliament tomorrow, with MacAlister proposing that it should address four key areas:

• Raising the age of ‘internet adulthood’ from 13 to 16. This would presumably affect the sign-up age for services like social media and messaging platforms. It would also mean children under the age of 16 would need their parents' consent in order for services to collect and process their personal data on the legal basis of consent.
• A legal ban on smartphones in schools.
• Giving Ofcom more power to protect children from addictive apps. This would expand upon Ofcom's powers under the Online Safety Act, with powers to prevent tech companies from exposing children to apps that are ‘addictive by design’.
• Committing Government to considering further regulation of the design, supply, marketing and use of smartphones by under 16s.

Though it is early days for this bill, with a full draft expected in the coming weeks, it is likely to be seen as a welcome move by civil society groups and parents who consider that the Online Safety Act does not go far enough to protect children online. In particular, this appears to be a huge win for the Smartphone Free Childhood movement, which has been ramping up in recent months. It also reflects the previous Government's vision of striving to make the UK ‘the safest place in the world to be online’. 

Of course this news will be less welcome for tech companies who are already grappling with the new online safety regime and impending compliance deadlines. It will be very interesting to see how all this develops over the coming months.