Social media bosses could face jail if they breach child safety laws

Labour’s backing of a Tory amendment to the Online Safety Bill means they potentially have the numbers to defeat Rishi Sunak’s government

Tory rebels want the Online Safety Bill to include a clause meaning that social media bosses could be jailed for failing to protect children (Yui Mok/PA) (PA Wire)

Rishi Sunak is facing a major backbench rebellion as Conservative MPs push for social media bosses to be made criminally liable for protecting children from harm online.

A host of former cabinet ministers are among those who have put their name to an amendment to the Online Safety Bill demanding tougher action.

Almost 40 rebels, including former home secretary Priti Patel and former Tory leader Sir Iain Duncan-Smith, want the owners of social media platforms to face jail time if they fail to protect children from seeing damaging content.