A Labour government will give new online safety powers to coroners, says Yvette Cooper

Labour has announced today that it would give coroners more powers to access information held by tech companies after a child's death. This would allow them to make sure data is retained and not deleted by tech companies. 

Following Peter Kyle's announcement, Yvette Cooper re-iterated that a Labour Government will pass the legislation necessary to achieve this. 

Bereaved parents have described their agony at being 'stonewalled' by big tech companies when they try to learn what their child was accessing before their death. 

The Government was criticised for introducing a watered-down version of these powers before caving and being forced into another u-turn. Appearing on Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg today, Victoria Atkins refused to commit that the Conservatives would bring these powers into place if elected, despite repeated promises being made in the last Parliament.”

The delays caused by the government mishandling this sensitive issue meant that the required law was never passed before the end of Parliament, along with key laws on smoking and leasehold reform - ditched because of when Rishi Sunak chose to call the general election.

The Labour party has pledged to finish the job and give coroners the powers they need to access information held by tech companies after a child's death.

Peter Kyle MP, Labour's Shadow Science, Technology and Innovation Secretary, said:

“Labour has long campaigned for stronger protections to keep children safe online.

“Bereaved families have shown tremendous courage in their battle to get more access to information from tech companies after the deaths of their loved ones.

“The Conservatives repeatedly watered down and stalled the promises they made to them until it was too late for them to pass legislation because of when Rishi Sunak chose to call the election. The Health Secretary Victoria Atkins refused to commit that the Conservatives would bring these powers into place if elected.

“Only a Labour government would finally give coroners the powers they need to access information held by tech companies after a child's death."

Ends.

Notes:

Laura Kuenssberg: “I don't know if you heard, but we asked Yvette Cooper that very specific promise to bereaved parents that they would be able to access their children's social media accounts. That was dropped during the wash-up period, the law didn't make it through when the election was called. If you win, would you commit to bringing that back as soon as possible for those families?”

Victoria Atkins: “So I have enormous sympathy for those families. We have to make decisions by collective responsibility. If it was my decision alone, it would be a big yes. But let's wait and see what the manifesto says.”