Manuella’s fight against online misinformation

Stratford’s local Lib Dem MP used her platform on Thursday 3rd April to push the government to protect the 2023 Online Safety Act in future US-UK trade negotiations. U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent tariffs imposed on the UK could be used as a bargaining tool by the White House to push the UK Government to reduce regulation on Silicon Valley tech giants such as Google or Meta. 

Speaking in a Westminster debate, Manuella Perteghella defended the UK’s regulation detailing the threat digital platforms pose in spreading misinformation, hate speech and being used as a tool of sabotage. 

Speaking during the House of Commons debate,  Perteghella said:

“Successive Governments have not been proactive in tackling the threat…tech and social media giants have spread misinformation and outright lies. They have let their digital platforms incite hatred and digital and physical violence, and they have caused riots on our streets.”

“It is not just our democratic processes that are under threat and being targeted but our children too. With violent misogyny, online abuse, radicalisation and sexualisation on these platforms, who is keeping our children safe? The Online Safety Act 2023 must not be watered down in any future trade deal negotiations with the US.”

Perteghella also called for more British based regulation saying:

“We cannot rely on our safety being a priority for any other nation or for unelected tech billionaires. We need regulation and legislation to protect the people of Britain and ensure that our democracy is not affected by lies propagated by groups and individuals who do not have Britain’s best interests at heart.”