The protection of human rights online is fundamental to the protection of human rights more broadly, and vice versa. Too often, ‘digital regulation’ globally is used as an excuse to curb digital rights and freedoms: in recent days we have seen the alarming consequences of governments being able to weaponise internet and information regulation to suppress political dissent.
For the UK to credibly position itself as a world-leader in how to achieve liberal democratic digital regulation, it needs an online safety regime that is firmly rooted in strong human rights legislation. We do not agree that the Government’s proposals for a new Bill of Rights will provide this strong framework.