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Online Safety Bill is not fit for purpose, IT experts say

TECH experts have called the Online Safety Bill unworkable and not fit for purpose, according to a survey of the IT industry.

A study by BCS, the Chartered Institute for IT, also found that 58 per cent of IT experts surveyed thought the Bill would have a negative impact on freedom of speech.

The Bill is designed to place a duty on social media platforms to protect users from online harms.

But according to the BCS study, only 14 per cent of industry professionals believe the legislation is fit for purpose, with 46 per cent saying it was not workable and the rest unsure.

In response to the findings the head of BCS said the government should “fundamentally review” the Bill in its current form.

The proposed legislation had been due to make its way through Parliament before the summer recess but has now been delayed until MPs return in September and the new prime minister is in place.

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