The tax on digital services, a two percent levy on the income of technological companies, is also on the table. The three policies have attracted fierce opposition to the American technological industry.
Asked about the negotiations underway at a public hearing Tuesday afternoon by Chi Onwurah, president of the Committee of Sciences, Innovation and Technology of the House of Commons, Starmer said: “There are questions about the appropriate way of imposing digital services. There are questions about the impact of technology with freedom of expression.”
But he added: “I was very clear, in my opinion, that we must have an arrangement for any digital tax. And also, we must be pioneers of freedom of expression, which we have been in this country for many years.
“But at the same time, we rightly protect under the online security law, of which other provisions come into force fairly quickly, and when it comes to dealing with pedophiles and protecting children, I take a fairly strong line that we take the necessary measures to do so.”
Starmer was less firm on disinformation. Questioned by Onwurah about the role of social media riots last summer after murders in Southport, Starmer said that it was necessary to be “proportionate”.
Lib Dem Layla Moran MP also asked Starmer during the Liaison Committee session if NHS parts, including access to the US market for NHS data, were on the table in talks. He avoided responding directly by saying: “I was very protective of the approach that we adopt at the NHS in relations with another country, because it is our greatest asset and we do not exchange it.”
Politices
