A survivor of child abuse and an experienced engineer, I have been faced with the haunting reality of online child exploitation. My personal history and the conviction of a close ex-friend for online child grooming pushed me to act towards ending this menace. My work dealing with complex data, coupled with my research, brought me face to face with the distressing ease with which children are exploited online. In the UK, the protections provided under law are insufficient and allow loopholes for child abuse. Currently, children and parents are expected to accept a multitude of company's different terms and conditions, without there being a consistent and robust legal framework to protect their rights and psychological data. 

This needs to change. We need our government to establish a 'Children's Digital Sovereignty' bill. Such a bill will set out the terms and conditions of which social / tech companies, artificial intelligence and people interact with children online and clearly define the acceptable boundaries. It will ensure that any interaction with children online, be it by individuals or corporations, is governed by law. Statistically, 1 in 5 children in the UK have been subject to unwanted sexual solicitation online (Source: Internet Watch Foundation). Let this not be a number that keeps rising.

Sadly, this crucial issue has been swept under the rug by political parties for far too long. The government is reluctant to face these issues head-on, allowing child abuse to be a part of our present, as it has tainted our past. Today, lets rise together and say, 'No More'.

It is high time the UK Government shoulders this responsibility actively by implementing a 'Children's Digital Sovereignty' bill that strictly regulates online interactions with children. This should be non-negotiable and paramount in the interest of our future generations. Sign this petition and help us bring about this needed change. Let's ensure the digital world is safe and secure for our children to explore.