Part of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport – in the House of Commons at on 26 May 2022.
Chris Philp
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
Yes, I can categorically give that assurance. There has been some misinformation around this issue. First, there is nothing at all in the Bill that requires social media firms to censor or prohibit speech that is legal and that is harmless to children. Reports to the contrary are quite simply untrue. In fact, there is express provision in the Bill: Clause 19(2) expressly provides for a new duty on social media firms to have regard to free speech. Such a provision does not currently exist.
A parliamentary bill is divided into sections called clauses.
Printed in the margin next to each clause is a brief explanatory `side-note' giving details of what the effect of the clause will be.
During the committee stage of a bill, MPs examine these clauses in detail and may introduce new clauses of their own or table amendments to the existing clauses.
When a bill becomes an Act of Parliament, clauses become known as sections.
