Chris Elmore, MP for Ogmore, is calling on the UK Government to bring forward a more robust Online Safety Bill than currently proposed following a torrent of racist abuse aimed at England football players.

Much of this abuse took place on social media platforms, with companies repeatedly coming under fire for not doing enough to tackle abuse on their platforms.

Mr Elmore wants an Online Safety Bill which will put in place laws to safeguard young people and clamp down on racial hate. In its current form, the Bill does not hold social media companies accountable for their actions.

Chris Elmore, who chairs the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Social Media, has campaigned extensively for better protections for people, particularly young people online.  Chris is calling on the UK Government to drastically rework the proposed Bill as he wants to see it usher in a new era of accountability for companies that host user-generated content or allowing people to talk to others online.

Chris Elmore MP has called on the UK Government to introduce measures which require these companies to remove and limit the spread of illegal and harmful content such as racial hate and abuse.

Chris Elmore, MP for Ogmore, said:

“The racist abuse being aimed at England players following the final match is vile and disgusting.  These players have shown passion, dedication and given their best throughout the European Championship, we cannot stand for the abuse they are now facing.

“The Prime Minister tweeted a message of condemnation, but it’s too little too late after he continuously failed to condemn those who booed players taking the knee to promote equality and unity against racism.  If the Prime Minister was serious about equality and tackling racial abuse online, the UK Tory Government would bring forward the Online Safety Bill to act as a vehicle for real change and reform, and hold those spouting hate online to account.

“We need specific laws in place to ensure they cannot ignore this revolting content.  A hate crime committed online should be treated the same as a crime on the streets.  Now is the time for the Prime Minister to follow the examples of Rashford, Sancho and Saka and do something that benefits everyone.”