UK online harm bill to include prosecution of tech bosses

Prime minister Rishi Sunak has caved to rebel Tory demands over the UK government’s flagship online safety bill, after nearly 50 Conservatives backed an amendment aimed at prosecuting social media bosses who fail to protect under-18s online.

The legislation, which is due to return to the House of Commons on Tuesday, is designed to protect under-18s from harmful content and remove illegal content online, with Ofcom, the communications regulator, able to issue large fines to tech giants that do not comply with the law.