During a backbench debate on the landmark Online Safety Bill Committee report, Dean Russell asked the Chair of the Online Safety Bill Committee Damian Collins, if he agreed that the recommendations that were included in the committee’s 193-page report, such as the inclusion of Zach’s Law, will make the internet a safer place for children and vulnerable people.
Zach’s Law is one of the recommendations that was included in the committee’s report. It is as a result of a campaign led by Zach Eagling, a young boy with cerebral palsy and epilepsy who was targeted with cruel flashing images. This recommendation is to ensure that deliberately sending flashing images to people with photosensitive epilepsy with the intention of inducing a seizure is made illegal. Dean was praised by Damian Collins in his speech for “speaking out very strongly on the issue of the targeting of people with epilepsy… both in the committee and elsewhere as well…”
Speaking after the debate Dean Russell said, “It has been a pleasure to support #ZachsLaw to make deliberately sending flashing images to people with photosensitive epilepsy illegal. I have been working with Suzanne Webb MP to work with Twitter and the Epilepsy Society to ensure social media platforms stop these images being used.”
Please watch the videos at the top of the page to see Damian Collins’ clear explanation of what the committee’s report intends to achieve and watch the clip below it to see Dean’s question.
