Online Hate Speech

Baroness Kidron Excerpts

Tuesday 16th June 2026 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Kidron (CB)]

My Lords, social media is where many people and most young people get their news, but it is owned or controlled by a handful of tech billionaires whose views are shared disproportionately and who represent an existential risk to democracy—as we saw when Elon Musk, the owner of X, tweeted in support of the riots. Does the Minister agree with me that our public square has now been privatised and that, for the future of democracy and news, we need to consider an alternative way of sharing news with young people?

[Baroness Lloyd of Effra (Lab)]

The importance of accurate, trusted news is essential. The noble Baroness touched on many different matters in her question. In respect of young people and their access to social media, as I will be talking about shortly, we have put down proposals that will restrict social media platforms in providing content to under-16s. Providing accurate news is hugely important more generally and, as I mentioned on the previous question, we are looking at the role that algorithms play in social cohesion and the spread of online hate. The noble Baroness raises the very important point of media literacy, and we are working with young people and more generally through our media literacy plan to improve the ability of all people, whether young or old, to discern misinformation and disinformation in this important area.