A CYBER-security company has advised the new online safety bill does not mean an end to personal responsibility.

Jim Hawkins, from Poole-based C3IA Solutions, said he fears some people will take less interest in the dangers of social media after the bill is passed.

The bill aims to protect people online, by making social media companies more responsible for users safety, by making them responsible for removing illegal content quickly, or preventing it from being posted.

It is designed to stop children from accessing harmful content, enforce age limits and provide a way for people to report issues.

It has had a bumpy passage through Parliament so far, with some expressing concerns over the bill’s content.

Mr Hawkins said: “This is a hugely complex area and Government still has several areas to address but the bill remains a legislative priority and is expected to get Royal Assent by the summer.

“Whatever happens with the bill we are urging people to take control of their own online lives, and those of their children and businesses.

“This involves parents, carers and also educational organisations helping inform children from a young age about the dangers they may face online and when using social media.

“And the education shouldn’t stop there – businesses should consider offering training to their employees.”

He said it was in the interest of companies to ensure employees know about the risk posed online, as they can get dragged into issues that may cause reputational damage.

“New applications and platforms emerge all the time and each potentially introduces new worries and dangers, so education must be on-going,” Mr Hawkins said.

“What we don’t want is for people to think that because there is an online safety bill they don’t need to be concerned about it. They do.

“Personal responsibility will always be important where the internet is concerned, along with education and training.

He said people should always assume dangers still exist online, and some things are not what they seem to be.

He added: “It will also become important for people to report these dangers and illegal content when they come across them.”