Online Safety Bill changes 'not ruled out' - culture secretary

The civilization caput has said she is "not ruling out" immoderate changes to the government's Online Safety Bill successful the look of a large backbench rebellion.

Thirty-six Tory MPs are backing a program to marque societal media bosses look situation if they neglect to support children from damaging online content.

In the bill's existent form, firms would alternatively look higher fines.

Michelle Donelan told the BBC she would instrumentality a "sensible approach" erstwhile considering MPs' ideas.

Under the proposals, elder managers astatine tech firms could look up to 2 years successful jailhouse if they breach caller duties to support children harmless online. The proviso would not use to hunt engines.

Among the rebels backing the amendment, which is owed to beryllium voted connected adjacent week, are erstwhile Cabinet ministers Priti Patel and Dame Andrea Leadsom.

Labour has confirmed to the BBC it besides supports the amendment, meaning rebel MPs could person the numbers to inflict the archetypal decision of Rishi Sunak's premiership if it is called to a vote.

Miriam Cates, a starring Tory rebel, told the BBC the radical of backbenchers met Ms Donelan earlier this week, and ministers recognise the "strength of feeling" implicit the issue.

She added that they were unfastened to authorities concessions, but immoderate connection to alteration the instrumentality would person to clasp idiosyncratic liability for managers.

"I deliberation that is the cardinal operator of change," she told the BBC's World Tonight programme, adding: "In the operation manufacture we've seen a monolithic driblet successful accidents and deaths successful operation since the elder manager liability was introduced."

Mr Sunak has already faced important backbench revolts successful the archetypal 2 months of his premiership - implicit lodging targets for councils and restrictions connected onshore upwind farms.

On some of those issues, the premier curate backed down and offered concessions to debar decision successful the House of Commons.

The Online Safety Bill was introduced successful March nether Boris Johnson, and has been repeatedly altered during its transition done Parliament.

Its advancement was further delayed past period erstwhile the authorities decided to marque much changes to the bill.

It is owed to instrumentality to the Commons adjacent Tuesday, earlier what is apt to beryllium a agelong travel done the House of Lords.