Jess Phillips Critiques Farage’s Stance on Online Safety Act

Jess Phillips, the Home Office minister for safeguarding and violence against women and girls, has publicly criticized Nigel Farage over his opposition to the Online Safety Act. Phillips argues that repealing the legislation would empower individuals akin to “modern-day Jimmy Saviles,” referring to notorious figures who exploit children online. Her remarks come in support of her colleague Peter Kyle, who recently clashed with the leader of Reform UK on this critical issue.

The Online Safety Act, which took effect on July 25, 2023, mandates that online platforms, including social media sites and search engines, implement measures to shield children from harmful content such as pornography and materials that could encourage suicide. Farage has described the law as a significant threat to freedom of speech and open debate, raising concerns that it could stifle legitimate discourse.

In a piece published in The Times, Phillips highlighted Farage’s comments, stating, “He said it’s the biggest threat to freedom of speech in our lifetimes.” She supported Kyle’s assertion that Farage is aligning himself with “modern-day Jimmy Saviles preying on children online.”

Phillips specifically referenced Alexander McCartney, a criminal who posed as a teenage girl to exploit young females globally on platforms like Snapchat. McCartney is believed to have abused at least 70 children and has been linked to the tragic suicide of one victim. Phillips emphasized that the Online Safety Act is designed to establish a basic level of protection to make it more difficult for predators to exploit children.

Law enforcement has indicated to Phillips that paedophile networks utilize seemingly safe websites to manipulate and blackmail minors. She expressed concern that Farage may dismiss these issues due to the lack of political capital and online engagement they offer. “Perhaps Nigel Farage doesn’t worry about that — there’s no political advantage in it, and no clicks for his monetised social media accounts. But I do,” Phillips stated.

The minister further elaborated on the long-term implications of online abuse, warning that boys exposed to such content could become adults with distorted views on relationships and parenting. “I can’t ignore that, neither can Peter Kyle, and, most importantly, nor can millions of parents across the country,” she added.

Phillips challenged Farage to consider the human cost of undermining the Online Safety Act. “I defy Nigel Farage to meet even one parent who has lost a daughter to suicide because she was being blackmailed online and tell them that is just the price of civil liberties,” she said. “Maybe he’d feel differently after that kind of meeting, or maybe he wouldn’t care.”

Echoing Phillips’ sentiments, Kyle remarked last week, “Make no mistake about it, if people like Jimmy Savile were alive today, he’d be perpetrating his crimes online. And Nigel Farage is saying that he’s on their side.” Farage, in response, has demanded an apology from the Technology Secretary, who has refused to retract her statements.

As the debate continues, the impact of the Online Safety Act on child protection remains a pivotal concern for many lawmakers and parents alike.