Government plans to force social media plans to tackle online harms are not fit for purpose, according to a new poll of IT experts.

The study, carried out by BCS, The Chartered Institute of IT, found that 46 per cent of IT professionals believe the Bill is unworkable, while the rest are unsure.

More than half of the 1,300 tech experts surveyed said that the legislation would have a negative impact on freedom of speech.

Only a fifth felt the legislation would make the internet safer, with 51 per cent saying the law would not make it safer to be online.

The long-awaited Online Safety Bill, which is expected to pass by early next year, includes tougher and quicker criminal sanctions for tech bosses, as well as new criminal offences for falsifying and destroying data.

The government said the Bill will force social media giants like Facebook and Instagram, search engines, and other online platforms that allow people to post their own content to protect children, tackle illegal activity, and uphold their stated terms and conditions.

Under the new rules, regulator Ofcom will have the power to fine companies failing to comply up to ten per cent of their annual global turnover, force them to improve their practices, and block non-compliant sites.

“There is real need to prevent online harm, but this law only goes part way to trying to achieve that,” said Rob Deri, chief executive, BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT. “The aim should be to prevent hatred and abusive online behaviours by stopping harmful material from appearing online in the first place – and that takes a mix of both technical and societal changes.”

The chief exec suggested that while the technology itself has an important part to play in keeping people safe on social media platforms, the law leans too heavily on tech solutions to prevent harmful content. He said that this could impact freedom of speech and privacy, which is “unacceptable in a democratic society.

BCS calls for the government to focus on substantive programmes of digital education and advice so that young people and their parents can confidently navigate the risks of social media.

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