Generation could be lost to 'malign influence' of big tech, warns Shropshire MP

A Shropshire MP has warned that the country is in danger of ‘losing a generation of young people’ to the ‘malign influences’ of technology giants.

Mark Pritchard, MP for The Wrekin, called on the Government to take a hard line on internet companies, saying it was not enough to issue guidance which would be ignored.

He said many technology entrepreneurs were a threat to democracy, with the funds to outspend many governments.

Mr Pritchard was speaking in a debate on digital safety in the House of Commons.

The Prime Minister this week told online operators such as Apple and Google to black access to naked images on smartphones and other devices for under-18s.

He asked them to either activate built-in features or update software to prevent children from taking, sending or viewing sexually explicit images.

Mr Pritchard said technology companies could be a force for good, but both the present government, and the previous Conservative administration, were ‘completely embedded with big tech’.

“This country is in danger of losing a generation of young people to the bad and malign influences of big tech,” he told MPs.

“Big tech is often more powerful and has bigger budgets than many governments, and some of the big tech owners do not believe in democracy.

“They believe that democracy is bust and want to undo it.

“There is an inherent conflict of interests between the Government’s position and big tech’s influence and embeddedness in all government departments.”

He said MPs had a responsibility to take action, because parents felt powerless.

“They look to us as their Members of Parliament to reflect their views, and today I am reflecting my constituents’ views.

“Guidance is not good enough. It has to be about legislation, class actions and big bucks, that is what these companies listen to.”

He said the Government was focused on outcomes for young people and families, and would introduce legislation where necessary.

He accepted that robust action was needed in the short term.

But he added: “In the long term Britain will shape technology, rather than being shaped by it, if we build British capability.”

He said the Government had announced a £1 billion hardware plan to ensure that the next generation of fundamental technologies, artificial intelligence microchips in particular, were built in the UK.

“We are reindustrialising ourselves but, at the heart of it, making sure that we have the discretion to engage with international firms in the way that we want,” Mr Narayan said.