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The government has announced proposals for a levy on technology firms to "raise awareness and counter internet harms​".

Details of the new Internet Safety Strategy are scant, but the government says it will be charged against "social media companies and communication service providers". That could mean that firms such as Facebook, Google, BT and Virgin Media are all asked to pay.


There's also no word on whether the levy will be compulsory, how much a company will have to pay or where it will be used. The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) didn't respond to questions seeking further clarification on the levy.

Previously, May has warned tech companies may face fines if they don't remove terror-related content quickly. Although, no legislation has been put forward around this yet.

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“Many of these measures are sensible, but let's remember it is individuals who break the law," says Jim Killock of the Open Rights Group. "Companies are not the police. Facebook and Google do not run courts of law, and they do not run prisons. The government needs to be clear that the police will pursue wrongdoers when laws are broken.”

The levy will form part of a Green Paper from DCMS, which outlines potential new policy approaches from the government. The government claims a new digital charter will help to make the UK the "safest place" to be online in the UK.

It's not the first time May's government has announced plans to regulate the internet. So far these plans have amounted to a series of threats about encryption and demands that technology companies do more to counter terrorism and hate speech.


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The government is also working on a new "social media code of practice' that will introduce a "joined-up approach to remove or address bullying, intimidating or humiliating online content". Social media companies have already worked in partnership with academics and other organisations to tackle online harassment. In counter terrorism, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and Microsoft have already partnered on efforts to stop radical material being shared online.

The government also says an annual internet safety transparency report will be created and it will make schools teach online safety education. It says it will work with technology firms on its proposals.