Rishi Sunak faces major Tory rebellion over internet safety law

• 36 Tory MPs signed onto an amendment to the government’s Online Safety Bill.
• The bill is due to be voted on in the House of Commons next week.
• The Online Safety Bill is up for a vote in following week with their amendment.

Rishi Sunak is facing a significant backbench uprising, over the government’s plans to stop damaging content on the internet.

An initiative to have social media executives go to jail if they don’t shield minors from harmful internet content has the support of 36 Tory MPs.

The Online Safety Bill is up for a vote in the following week with their amendment.

Under Boris Johnson, the concept was raised but ultimately rejected in favor of stiffer fines for businesses.

The uprising comes after several large backbench uprisings in recent weeks over housing targets for local governments and limits on onshore wind projects.

In order to avoid being defeated in the House of Commons, the prime minister gave ground on both of those concerns and made concessions.

Senior executives at tech companies may spend up to two years in prison under the rebels’ ideas if they fail to uphold new obligations to protect children’s online safety. Search engines would not be covered by the clause.

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