Norfolk MP Liz Truss has matched a set of promises from her Tory leadership rival Rishi Sunak to bring forward key legislation aimed at reining in the power of big tech firms and improving the digital economy.
The foreign secretary gave her endorsement to two crucial pledges concerning media freedom and fair competition, which the former chancellor has already been reported as making, as part of his campaign.
The first is to give priority parliamentary approval in the autumn to the government's Digital Markets, Competition and Consumer Bill - which is designed to level the playing field between UK news organisations and tech giants like Facebook.
The second is to repeal Section 40 of the Crime and Courts Act of 2013, which, if brought into force, would require newspapers not signed up to a Royal Charter approved regulator – currently only Impress – to pay both sides’ legal costs whether they win or lose in court.
Asked in an interview on Friday, July 29, whether she would match Mr Sunak’s two promises, Ms Truss insisted: "I absolutely have already said that I will keep those commitments."
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