Lib Dems slam Welsh Labour MPs for Voting Against Stronger Regulations on the use of Tech Algorithms on Children

The Welsh Lib Dems have hit out at the UK Government’s ‘sell-out’ approach to tech policy as Labour MPs, including Welsh Labour MPs, voted against “common-sense reforms” in the Data Bill last night. The Conservatives abstained completely. 

Labour MPs rejected plans proposed by the Lib Dems to restrict companies’ access to the personal data of under-16s and to protect British creatives from having their work scraped by AI models in the Commons.

The online safety legislation would have protected children between 13 and 16 from having their data harvested by social media giants. Tech companies can use the data of under-16s to drive hyper-targeted advertising and content pushed by addictive algorithms, driving children’s engagement with digital content.

Welsh Liberal Democrat MP for Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe said that as a father of two young boys, he is extremely concerned about the way in which tech platforms engineer addiction, manipulate attention, and shape childhood in ways that parents and even Governments cannot easily counter.

In his speech, he highlighted how targeted algorithms are shaping beliefs, reinforcing insecurities and amplifying harm. Whether it is body image filters, content promoting self-harm or endless scrolling, these platforms are designed for engagement, not wellbeing.

On copyright, the legislation proposed by Lib Dem tech spokesperson Victoria Collins would have prevented AI companies’ scraping of British artists’ work without a license, under existing copyright law. This would have protected UK creatives from having their work mined by large language models like ChatGPT without remuneration. AI programmes that collect data from British creators – music, TV, written material and the like – would have had to get a license to access those artists’ works, in line with existing copyright laws for all other non-AI users.

In Wales alone, the creative industries turned over £1.5 billion in 2023, employing more than 37,000 people.

The Government voted against both measures, sparking accusations from the Lib Dems that they’re “asleep at the wheel” when it comes to tech.

Commenting, Welsh Liberal Democrat Westminster Spokesperson David Chadwick MP, said:

“Whether it’s our young people or our hardworking creatives – it seems this Labour government is ready to sell out the British people to please tech giants.

“As the father of two young boys, I am deeply concerned about the way in which tech platforms engineer addiction, manipulate attention, and shape childhood in ways that parents and even Governments cannot easily counter.

 “This is not hypothetical; it is the reality that our children are living every day. Those social media algorithms do not just show content. They shape beliefs, reinforce insecurities and amplify harm. Whether it is body image filters, content promoting self-harm or endless scrolling, these platforms are designed for engagement, not wellbeing.

“Labour seems to be asleep at the wheel while the rest of the country is facing a sea change in how our online world operates.

I was very disappointed to see Welsh Labour MPs vote against these commonsense and proportional reforms to keep our young people safe and our brilliant creatives in business.

“The Lib Dems will continue to campaign to make sure tech works for all of us – including our young people and world-leading creative artists and writers.”

ENDS