SOCIAL media giants must be prosecuted if they fail to protect kids, a lead campaigner says.
Sanctions for online firms such as Facebook, Twitter and Snapchat must be implemented by new regulator powers, the Children’s Commissioner says.
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Children’s Commissioner Anne Longfield says ministers must press ahead with financial penalties over self-harm and extreme content online.
She said: “Tech firms hold huge sway.
“Too often they’ve been dodging responsibility for taking down extreme content.”
Ms Longfield welcomed plans for Ofcom to police the internet.
But she warned: “When things go wrong in other industries, managers face prosecution.
“So let’s demand the same.”
“It’s time for tech companies to show that they care about making kids safe from harm just as much as they do about making millions from them.”
The move comes after Molly Russell took her own life after viewing distressing material about suicide and depression on her Instagram account.
Facebook said: “Keeping people safe online is something we take extremely seriously.”
