The Prime Minister expressed concern over the availability of violent material online, contrasting it with the stricter rules for films shown in cinemas. Axel Rudakubana was charged with possession of terrorism-related information after being found with knives, poison, and violent content on his devices. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper pledged tougher restrictions on online knife sales and asked tech companies to remove dangerous material accessed by Rudakubana.
Sir Keir Starmer highlighted the new threat posed by individuals accessing extreme violence online, leading to acts of violence like the Southport murders. He emphasized the need to protect children from violent content online and called for a review of laws to address this issue. The government is contacting technology companies to remove dangerous material and tightening laws around the online sale of knives.
The Molly Rose Foundation CEO supported the Prime Minister’s call for a review of laws to protect children from online threats and urged a reworked and strengthened Online Safety Act. The provisions of the Online Safety Act are being implemented gradually, with further action possible in the future. Amazon stated that they take the responsibility around the sale of age-restricted items seriously and have launched an investigation into the tragic case involving Rudakubana.
