Speaking at a parliamentary committee hearing on Tuesday (8 April), Keir Starmer said there were “questions” around digital taxation and “how technology impacts free speech”, suggesting that key provisions of the Online Safety Act could be watered down in pursuit of a US trade deal.
Eastwood said this confirmed what she and others had warned about last week, only to be dismissed by Ministers.
The Lagan Valley MP said: “Last week, I directly challenged the Secretary of State for Business and Trade during the statement on Trump tariffs, asking whether online safety protections were being used as a bargaining chip in these negotiations. I was told my concerns were 'misplaced'. Clearly, they weren’t.
“Protecting children should never, ever be up for negotiation.
“Online abuse is destroying lives, and parents and teachers are at breaking point. The current system is already woefully inadequate, and yet, instead of raising standards and ensuring Big Tech pays its fair share, the UK Government is poised to roll over.
“Why on Earth would we let Donald Trump dictate how we protect our children? You don’t sell out children’s safety for anything, least of all Trump.
“The Prime Minister has recently praised Adolescence, hosting its creators and associated charities at No. 10 to celebrate its addition to the curriculum. This superficial gesture is meaningless when the real, transformative reforms are within his control.
“Instead, he’s willing to sacrifice the existing, wholly inadequate protections to appease Donald Trump and Elon Musk, two individuals who have zero regard for our young people, society or democracy.
“This Government is too weak and far too captured by vested interests to do what’s right. If Labour is more focused on pleasing a dangerous US administration than protecting young people, that’s not leadership, it’s a disgraceful, short-sighted betrayal of UK society.”
Eastwood said this confirmed what she and others had warned about last week, only to be dismissed by Ministers.
The Lagan Valley MP said: “Last week, I directly challenged the Secretary of State for Business and Trade during the statement on Trump tariffs, asking whether online safety protections were being used as a bargaining chip in these negotiations. I was told my concerns were 'misplaced'. Clearly, they weren’t.
“Protecting children should never, ever be up for negotiation.
“Online abuse is destroying lives, and parents and teachers are at breaking point. The current system is already woefully inadequate, and yet, instead of raising standards and ensuring Big Tech pays its fair share, the UK Government is poised to roll over.
“Why on Earth would we let Donald Trump dictate how we protect our children? You don’t sell out children’s safety for anything, least of all Trump.
“The Prime Minister has recently praised Adolescence, hosting its creators and associated charities at No. 10 to celebrate its addition to the curriculum. This superficial gesture is meaningless when the real, transformative reforms are within his control.
“Instead, he’s willing to sacrifice the existing, wholly inadequate protections to appease Donald Trump and Elon Musk, two individuals who have zero regard for our young people, society or democracy.
“This Government is too weak and far too captured by vested interests to do what’s right. If Labour is more focused on pleasing a dangerous US administration than protecting young people, that’s not leadership, it’s a disgraceful, short-sighted betrayal of UK society.”