Blog Layout

POSITIVE MEETING ON ONLINE HARMS BILL WITH CHRIS PHILPS MP

Carla Lockhart MP • March 6, 2022

DUP MP Carla Lockhart has for some time been championing the need to make the Internet a safer place. The MP has been trolled for many years particularly on her appearance and is a strong advocate of ensuring that any legislation brought forward by the Government to improve safety on the Internet needs to address robustly anonymity and deal with “legal but harmful” content. Progress has been made with the Online Safety Bill nearing its final draft. It is muted that it will be presented to Parliament before or immediately after Easter. 

The Upper Bann MP has been using her position at Westminster to press for more robust measures and recently met with Department for Culture, Sports and Media, Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Chris Philips MP who is leading on this issue. During the meeting they also discussed specific problems related to Northern Ireland given the continuing abuse of innocent victims of terrorism in a deliberate attempt to silence their voices.

 

Speaking after the meeting Carla Lockhart MP said, “this was a very positive discussion, and I am confident that the message has resonated with Government on the anonymity issue. It is clear from the draft bill that there will be a big focus on verification and the ability for people to chose whether they wish to interact with a non-verified account or not. I have no doubt this would help cleanse the Internet of some of the vile activity we see on a daily basis. It would appear that this measure will be further strengthened in the final draft.

 

I pressed the issue of legal but harmful content and the fact there needed to be clearer guidance/benchmarking for platforms to adhere too. It is not acceptable that young people can access sites that promote self-harm or other forms of harmful material. Also, the threshold for sites when self-regulating harmful content needs bolstered. I have experienced many incidents personally, as did my former party leader Arlene Foster, and the most recent attack on my colleague Diane Dodds. I made it clear the need to have more stringent rules surrounding making the platforms act on reporting of harmful content. It is well known that in Diane’s case it took three days for the content to be removed and that was only after a significant media storm. 

 

The final discussion point was around the many bot factories that exist and particularly those aimed at attacking and silencing innocent victims of terrorism in Northern Ireland. Chris gave an undertaking to ensure that the legislation around telecommunications and hate speech is as robust in Northern Ireland as in the rest of the UK.

 

I look forward to this Bill being presented to the House and for scrutiny. My aim is to ensure that it is not toothless and that it equips the police/OFCOM and other authorities with the legal framework to take action when required.”

Share

By Carla Lockhart MP March 19, 2025
Upper Bann MP, Carla Lockhart has said the closure of Santander’s Portadown branch on 30 June 2025 is yet another blow to high street banking, leaving many customers, especially older people, businesses, and those without digital banking access-without vital services. 
By Carla Lockhart MP March 19, 2025
Upper Bann MP, Carla Lockhart has consistently challenged Labour’s decision last year to strip pensioners not in receipt of pension credit of the vital Winter Fuel Payment branding it as “nothing short of disgraceful”. At a time when the cost of living continues to rise and energy prices remain high, this callous move left many older people struggling to heat their homes.
By Carla Lockhart MP March 19, 2025
Last week marked National Cancer Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) Day, a time to acknowledge and celebrate the exceptional work of Cancer CNSs across Northern Ireland. These highly skilled professionals play a crucial role in supporting cancer patients and their families, providing expert care, guidance, and reassurance at every stage of the journey. 
By Carla Lockhart MP March 19, 2025
Upper Bann MP Carla Lockhart has praised Northern Ireland Volleyball following their resounding success in retaining the St Patrick’s Challenge Trophy on 15 March. The annual fixture, which sees Northern Ireland take on the Republic of Ireland, saw Northern Ireland’s four national teams secure a 3-1 victory over their counterparts in an exciting day of top-class sport. 
By Carla Lockhart MP March 19, 2025
Upper Bann MP Carla Lockhart has praised the fantastic community spirit on display at a series of events in Portadown to mark St Patrick’s Day.
By Carla Lockhart MP March 19, 2025
Upper Bann MP Carla Lockhart has welcomed the announcement by Education Minister Paul Givan MLA that the Northern Ireland Childcare Subsidy Scheme (NICSS) will be extended into the 2025/26 financial year, with a 10% increase in the subsidy payment cap from 1st April. 
By Carla Lockhart MP March 19, 2025
Carla Lockhart MP has praised the Lurgan and Brownlow Branch of the Royal British Legion (RBL) for securing £7,500 in funding to improve accessibility at their premises. The grant, provided by the Veterans’ Foundation, has enabled the installation of a new stairlift, ensuring better access for veterans and members of the local community.
By Carla Lockhart MP March 19, 2025
Carla Lockhart MP has welcomed a new initiative from Macmillan Cancer Support aimed at improving access to public toilets for people living with cancer. 
By Carla Lockhart MP March 18, 2025
Upper Bann MP, Carla Lockhart has challenged the government on its deeply concerning proposals for changes to Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and Universal Credit, warning that the reforms could disproportionately harm those in genuine need. 
By Carla Lockhart MP March 17, 2025
Reports that lab-grown meat will be available for human consumption in the UK within two years has attracted backlash from farmers and consumers. 
More Posts
Share by: