Damian Collins

Damian Collins was born on 4 February 1974 in Northampton. He was educated at St Mary's Roman Catholic High School, a state voluntary aided comprehensive school in Hereford, followed by Belmont Abbey School, a former boarding independent school in Hereford, where he studied for his A Levels. He then studied Modern History at St Benet's Hall at the University of Oxford, graduating in 1996.{{cite web |title=Catholic Herald's article 'Politics makes a difference' |date=25 January 2018 |url=https://catholicherald.co.uk/politics-makes-a-difference/ |access-date=8 April 2021}}{{cite web |title=History of St Benet's Hall |url=https://www.st-benets.ox.ac.uk/history |access-date=8 April 2021}}{{cite web |title=About Damian Collins |url=https://damiancollins.com/about/ |access-date=8 April 2021}}

During his time as a student, Collins was captain of the St Benet's Hall team on two episodes of University Challenge in October 1994 and January 1995, during Jeremy Paxman’s first series of the show.{{cite web |title=ConservativeHome's article: 'Damian Collins MP answers ConHome's Twenty Questions for the Class of 2010' |date=21 August 2010 |url=https://www.conservativehome.com/parliament/2010/08/damian-collins-mp-answers-conhomes-twenty-questions-for-the-class-of-2010.html |access-date=8 April 2021}} In 1995 Collins was President of the Oxford University Conservative Association.{{cite web |title=Past President's of the Oxford University Conservative Association |url=https://www.ouconservatives.com/past-presidents |access-date=8 April 2021}}

After graduating from Oxford, Collins joined the Conservative Research Department (CRD) in 1996. In 1999, Collins left Conservative Central Office to join the M&C Saatchi advertising agency and in 2008, Collins joined Lexington Communications as Senior Counsel.{{cite web |date=6 April 2017 |title=Royal Television Society article: 'Damian Collins: The MP influencing the TV sector' |url=https://rts.org.uk/article/damian-collins-mp-influencing-tv-sector |access-date=8 April 2021}}{{cite web |title=PR Week's article: 'Public Affairs: The Week in Lobbying' |url=https://www.prweek.com/article/854596/public-affairs-week-lobbying |access-date=8 April 2021}}

From 2003 to 2004 Collins was the Political Officer of the Bow Group think tank, and contributed to its 2006 publication Conservative Revival: Blueprint for a Better Britain (Politico's Publishing, 2006).{{cite web|title=People: Damian Collins MP|url=https://www.sportindustry.biz/about-us/people/damian-collins-mp|access-date=7 April 2021|website=www.sportindustry.biz|date=4 February 2016|publisher=Sport Industry Group}}{{cite book|last1=Philp|first1=Chris|title=Conservative Revival: Blueprint for a Better Britain|date=2006|publisher=Politico's Publishing Ltd|isbn=184275159X|location=London|pages=170}}

At the 2005 general election, Collins stood as the Conservative candidate in Northampton North, coming second with 30.8% of the vote behind the incumbent Labour MP Sally Keeble.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/vote2005/html/433.stm|title=Election 2005 {{!}} Results {{!}} Northampton North|website=news.bbc.co.uk|access-date=8 February 2018}}{{cite web |title=Election Data 2005 |url=http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2005ob.txt |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111015054249/http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2005ob.txt |archive-date=15 October 2011 |access-date=18 October 2015 |publisher=Electoral Calculus}}

In May 2006, Collins was included on the "A-list" of Conservative parliamentary candidates, created following the election of David Cameron as Leader of the Conservative Party.{{cite web|url=http://conservativehome.blogs.com/goldlist/2006/05/as_promised_thi.html|title=ConservativeHome's Seats & Candidates blog: Who is on the A-list?|publisher=ConservativeHome }}

On 13 July 2006, Collins was selected as the prospective parliamentary candidate for Folkestone and Hythe. Cameron's predecessor as Conservative leader, Michael Howard, had served as the constituency's MP since 1983; earlier in 2006 he had announced that he would not seek re-election at the forthcoming general election.{{cite web|title=ConservativeHome's Seats & Candidates blog: Damian Collins selected for Folkestone & Hythe|url=http://conservativehome.blogs.com/goldlist/2006/07/damian_collins_.html|publisher=ConservativeHome}}{{cite news |title=Michael Howard stands down as MP |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4818832.stm |access-date=7 April 2021 |work=BBC News |date=17 March 2006}}

At the 2010 general election, Collins was elected to Parliament as MP for Folkestone and Hythe with 49.4% of the vote and a majority of 10,122.[http://ukpollingreport.co.uk/guide/seat-profiles/folkestoneandhythe/n Election result, 2010] (UKPollingReport)[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/election2010/results/constituency/b76.stm Election result, 2010] (BBC)

Collins made his maiden speech in the House of Commons on 27 May 2010 in the Queen's Speech debate. He spoke about the new Conservative–Liberal Coalition Government’s energy and environmental policy, and his support for a new nuclear power station at Dungeness in his constituency.{{cite web |title=Hansard Volume 510: debated on Thursday 27 May 2010 |url=https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2010-05-27/debates/10052726000002/details#contribution-10052726000474 |website=hansard.parliament.uk |publisher=UK Parliament |access-date=7 April 2021}}

On 12 July 2010, Collins became a member of the House of Commons Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee.{{cite web |title=Hansard Volume 513: debated on Monday 12 July 2010 |url=https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2010-07-12/debates/1007131000004/Committees |website=hansard.parliament.uk |publisher=UK Parliament |access-date=7 April 2021}}

On 10 September 2012, Collins was made Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Theresa Villiers.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-19557186|title=NIO roles for Damian Collins and Alec Shelbrooke|first=Stephen|last=Walker|date=12 September 2012|work=BBC News}}

At the 2015 general election, Collins was re-elected as MP for Folkestone and Hythe with a decreased vote share of 47.9% and an increased majority of 13,797.{{cite web |title=Election Data 2015 |url=http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2015.txt |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151017112223/http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2015.txt |archive-date=17 October 2015 |access-date=17 October 2015 |publisher=Electoral Calculus}}{{Cite web |date=7 May 2015 |title=Tories holds Folkestone and Hythe, with Ukip second |url=https://www.kentonline.co.uk/folkestone/news/live-folkestone-and-hythe-general-36564/ |access-date=2019-10-10 |website=Kent Online |language=en}}

In the 2016 Brexit referendum, Collins campaigned for the UK to remain in the European Union.{{cite web |last1=Collins |first1=Damian |title=Vote Remain in the referendum on 23rd June |url=https://twitter.com/damiancollins/status/744511051291570176?lang=en |website=Twitter |publisher=@DamianCollins |access-date=7 April 2021}} He subsequently supported delivering the result of the referendum, for the UK to leave the EU, describing himself in July 2019 as "someone who voted Remain, but has always upheld the pledge I made at the last general election: to honour the result of the referendum."{{cite news |last1=Collins |first1=Damian |title=Only Boris Johnson can restore trust and excitement in our politics |url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/only-boris-johnson-can-restore-both-trust-and-excitement-in-our-politics-x9vt5p5qx |access-date=7 April 2021 |work=The Times |date=6 June 2019}}

In 2016 Collins was elected as chair of the Culture, Media and Sport select committee and was re-elected unopposed following the 2017 general election of the newly renamed Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee.{{cite web|title=ELECTION FOR CHAIRS OF SELECT COMMITTEES: RESULT|url=https://www.parliament.uk/globalassets/documents/commons-committees/Select-Committee-Chair-Results-2017.pdf|access-date=7 April 2021|website=www.parliament.uk}}{{cite web |title=Role of the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee |url=https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/378/digital-culture-media-and-sport/role |website=www.parliament.uk |publisher=UK Parliament |access-date=7 April 2021}} He remained Chair until the dissolution of Parliament on 6 November 2019.

At the snap 2017 general election, Collins was again re-elected, with an increased vote share of 54.7% and an increased majority of 15,411.{{Cite web |title=General Election 2017 Candidates for Folkestone and Hythe |url=https://www.kentonline.co.uk/election/folkestone-and-hythe/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191010111118/https://www.kentonline.co.uk/election/folkestone-and-hythe/ |archive-date=2019-10-10 |access-date=2019-10-10 |website=Kent Online}} He was again re-elected at the 2019 general election with an increased vote share of 60.1% and an increased majority of 21,337.{{Cite web |title=Archived copy |url=https://www.folkestone-hythe.gov.uk/media/6303/Statement-of-Persons-Nominated-Notice-of-Poll--Situation-of-Polling-Stations---UK-Parliamentary-General-Election-2019/pdf/SoPN__Notice_of_Poll_and_Polling_Stations_-_UK_Parliamentary_General_Election_2019.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191117000745/https://www.folkestone-hythe.gov.uk/media/6303/Statement-of-Persons-Nominated-Notice-of-Poll--Situation-of-Polling-Stations---UK-Parliamentary-General-Election-2019/pdf/SoPN__Notice_of_Poll_and_Polling_Stations_-_UK_Parliamentary_General_Election_2019.pdf |archive-date=2019-11-17 |access-date=2019-11-17}}

On 27 July 2021, Collins was elected Chair of the UK Parliament Joint Committee on the Draft Online Safety Bill, responsible for pre-legislative scrutiny of the Bill.{{Cite web|last=UK Parliament|date=23 July 2021|title=Joint Committee on the Draft Online Safety Bill established|url=https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/534/draft-online-safety-bill-joint-committee/news/156860/joint-committee-on-the-draft-online-safety-bill-established/|url-status=live|access-date=29 July 2019|website=www.parliament.uk|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210725045833/https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/534/draft-online-safety-bill-joint-committee/news/156860/joint-committee-on-the-draft-online-safety-bill-established/ |archive-date=25 July 2021 }}{{Cite news|last=Collins|first=Damian|date=29 July 2021|title=We have a once-in-a-generation chance to hold tech giants to account|work=The Telegraph|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2021/07/29/now-have-once-in-a-generation-chance-hold-tech-giants-account/|access-date=29 July 2021}}

In August 2022, Collins was made Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (Minister for Tech and the Digital Economy) as part of the caretaker administration of outgoing Prime Minister Boris Johnson. This includes responsibility for making the Online Safety Bill law.{{Cite web |last=Collins |first=Damian |date=9 July 2022 |title=Tweet: I'm honoured to have been appointed to serve as Online Safety Minister |url=https://twitter.com/DamianCollins/status/1545729364557447168}}

He supported Liz Truss in the July–September 2022 Conservative Party leadership election.{{Cite news |date=10 August 2022 |title=Tory Leadership: 10 more MPs announce support for Liz Truss |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-62493039 |access-date=12 August 2022}} He was reappointed to his ministerial office following her victory in the contest.{{Cite web |title=Ministerial Appointments: September 2022 |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/ministerial-appointments-september-2022 |access-date=8 September 2022 |website=GOV.UK |language=en}}

Collins was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2023 Birthday Honours for political and public service.{{London Gazette|issue=64082|supp=y|page=B11|date=17 June 2023}}

In 2024, Damian Collins lost his seat to Labour challenger Tony Vaughan. Folkestone & Hythe had elected only Conservative MPs since it was first contested in 1950.

Collins launched a high-profile inquiry into disinformation and fake news in the wake of allegations of Russian interference in the 2016 US elections, which also investigated the Facebook–Cambridge Analytica data scandal, concluding that "legal liabilities should be established for tech companies to act against harmful or illegal content on their sites."{{Cite web|title=Disinformation and 'fake news'|url=https://old.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons-select/digital-culture-media-and-sport-committee/inquiries/parliament-2017/fake-news-17-19/|url-status=live|website=www.parliament.uk|publisher=UK Parliament|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201029144534/https://old.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons-select/digital-culture-media-and-sport-committee/inquiries/parliament-2017/fake-news-17-19/ |archive-date=29 October 2020 }}{{Cite web|date=14 February 2019|title=Disinformation and 'fake news': Final Report|url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201719/cmselect/cmcumeds/1791/1791.pdf|url-status=live|website=www.parliament.uk|publisher=UK Parliament|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190218040929/https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201719/cmselect/cmcumeds/1791/1791.pdf |archive-date=18 February 2019 }} This led to the UK Government publishing the Online Harms White Paper.{{Cite web|date=April 2019|title=Online Harms White Paper|url=https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/793360/Online_Harms_White_Paper.pdf|url-status=live|access-date=8 April 2021|website=GOV.UK|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190408080630/https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/793360/Online_Harms_White_Paper.pdf |archive-date=8 April 2019 }} The Select Committee's inquiry featured in the 2019 Netflix documentary film The Great Hack.{{Cite news|last=Cadwalladr|first=Carole|date=20 July 2019|title=The Great Hack: the film that goes behind the scenes of the Facebook data scandal|language=en-GB|work=The Observer|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/jul/20/the-great-hack-cambridge-analytica-scandal-facebook-netflix|access-date=8 April 2021|issn=0029-7712}}

The committee's subsequent report on immersive and addictive technologies recommended a review of the Gambling Act 2005 in parliament to define loot boxes as a game of chance, and that "the malicious creation and distribution of deepfake videos should be regarded as harmful content" under the new Online Harms regime.{{Cite web|date=9 September 2019|title=Immersive and addictive technologies|url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201719/cmselect/cmcumeds/1846/1846.pdf|url-status=live|access-date=8 April 2021|website=www.parliament.uk|publisher=UK Parliament|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190919060231/https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201719/cmselect/cmcumeds/1846/1846.pdf |archive-date=19 September 2019 }}

An inquiry into homophobia in sport concluded that "despite the significant change in society's attitudes to homosexuality in the last 30 years, there is little reflection of this progress being seen in football", recommending that "Football clubs should take a tougher approach to incidents of homophobic abuse, issuing immediate bans" and "It should be made clear that match officials should have a duty to report and document any kind of abuse at all levels."{{Cite web|title=Homophobia in Sport inquiry|url=https://old.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons-select/culture-media-and-sport-committee/inquiries/parliament-2015/homophobia-in-sport-15-16/|access-date=8 April 2021|website=www.parliament.uk|publisher=UK Parliament}}{{Dead link|date=January 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}{{Cite web|date=7 February 2017|title=Homophobia in Sport|url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201617/cmselect/cmcumeds/113/113.pdf|url-status=live|access-date=8 April 2021|website=www.parliament.uk|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170301005915/https://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201617/cmselect/cmcumeds/113/113.pdf |archive-date=1 March 2017 }}

An inquiry into doping in sport was launched following journalistic investigations from The Sunday Times and on ARD about the prevalence of doping in sport and the responsiveness of the World Anti-Doping Agency, UK Anti-Doping, and the International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF).{{Cite web|date=27 February 2018|title=Combatting doping in sport|url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201719/cmselect/cmcumeds/366/366.pdf|url-status=live|access-date=8 April 2021|website=www.parliament.uk|publisher=UK Parliament|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180307193011/https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201719/cmselect/cmcumeds/366/366.pdf |archive-date=7 March 2018 }}

The committee's inquiry into equal pay at the BBC revealed evidence of pay discrimination at the BBC, and its report on TV licences for the over-75s criticised the BBC's decision to no longer fund all of these.{{Cite web|date=23 October 2018|title=BBC Annual Report and Accounts 2017–18: Equal pay at the BBC|url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201719/cmselect/cmcumeds/993/993.pdf|url-status=live|access-date=8 April 2021|website=www.parliament.uk|publisher=UK Parliament|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181126165314/https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201719/cmselect/cmcumeds/993/993.pdf |archive-date=26 November 2018 }} The report held responsible both the BBC and the Government for opaque BBC Charter renewal negotiations in 2015, having led to the BBC becoming responsible for "administering the welfare benefits that should rightly only ever be implemented by the Government" which the BBC then found it could no longer fully fund due to the "disturbing picture of the BBC’s overall finances."{{Cite web|date=11 October 2019|title=BBC Annual Report 2018-19 and TV licences for over 75s inquiry|url=https://old.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons-select/digital-culture-media-and-sport-committee/inquiries/parliament-2017/inquiry5/|access-date=8 April 2021|website=www.parliament.uk|publisher=UK Parliament}}

Following the death of a guest following filming for The Jeremy Kyle Show and the deaths of two former contestants in the dating show Love Island, Collins launched a parliamentary inquiry into reality television.{{Cite web|date=6 November 2019|title=Reality tv inquiry|url=https://old.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons-select/digital-culture-media-and-sport-committee/inquiries/parliament-2017/realitytv/|access-date=8 April 2021|website=www.parliament.uk|publisher=UK Parliament}} Jeremy Kyle refused to appear in front of the committee.{{Cite news|date=18 June 2019|title=Jeremy Kyle declines DCMS inquiry appearance|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-48676367|access-date=8 April 2021}} Following Collins' recommendations, broadcasting regulator Ofcom proposed new rules "to require broadcasters to ensure they take ‘due care’ of people participating in television and radio programmes."{{Cite news|date=14 May 2019|title=Jeremy Kyle: Calls for ITV show to be axed|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-48265740|access-date=8 April 2021}}{{Cite web|date=29 July 2019|title=Protecting participants in TV and radio programmes|url=https://www.ofcom.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0037/158779/consultation-protecting-participants-tv-radio.pdf|url-status=live|website=ofcom.org.uk|publisher=Ofcom|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200820063534/https://www.ofcom.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0037/158779/consultation-protecting-participants-tv-radio.pdf |archive-date=20 August 2020 }}

In January 2015, following a panel at the European Parliament hosted by MEPs Ivo Belet, Marc Tarabella and Emma McClarkin, Collins launched campaign group New FIFA Now with former Football Federation Australia Head of Corporate and Public Affairs Bonita Mersiades and businessman Jaimie Fuller, calling for an independent, non-governmental reform committee to address allegations of corruption and promote financial transparency at FIFA.{{Cite web|last=Fuller|first=James|date=2 December 2020|title=New FIFA Now|url=https://www.safebettingsites.com/newfifanow/|url-status=live|access-date=8 April 2021|website=safebettingsites.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201102143641/https://www.safebettingsites.com/newfifanow/ |archive-date=2 November 2020 }}{{Cite web|date=10 June 2015|title=Parliament's FIFA smackdown|url=https://www.politico.eu/article/parliament-fifa-resolution-corruption/|access-date=8 April 2021|website=POLITICO|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|last=Collins|first=Damian|date=19 July 2015|title=Fifa Reform Must Be Taken Out of Blatter's Hands|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/damian-collins/fifa-reform_b_7823532.html|url-status=live|access-date=8 April 2021|website=HuffPost UK|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150721010355/http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk:80/damian-collins/fifa-reform_b_7823532.html |archive-date=21 July 2015 }}

In May 2020, Collins warned that the COVID-19 pandemic had "badly exposed the weak financial position of clubs in the English Football League (EFL), many of whom were already on the edge of bankruptcy", calling along with the Football Supporters’ Association for a new Football Finance Authority.{{Cite web|date=22 May 2020|title="A way forward for football" – Damian Collins MP|url=https://thefsa.org.uk/news/a-way-forward-for-football-damian-collins-mp/|access-date=8 April 2021|website=Football Supporters' Association|language=en}}{{Cite web|title=Football Spectator Attendance: Covid-19 – Monday 9 November 2020 – Hansard – UK Parliament|url=https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2020-11-09/debates/DAE2A783-A73D-4F01-94CE-5DD2399B7383/details|access-date=8 April 2021|website=hansard.parliament.uk|language=en}}

In November 2018, for the first time since 1933, when the Joint Committee on Indian Constitutional Reform included parliamentarians from India, Collins invited parliamentarians from around the world to the House of Commons in London to form an ‘International Grand Committee’ to discuss disinformation and data privacy.{{Cite news|last=Bartlett|first=Jamie|date=29 November 2018|title=Finally, politicians have realised how to hold Facebook to account|work=The Spectator|url=https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/finally-politicians-have-realised-how-to-hold-facebook-to-account|access-date=8 April 2021}}{{Cite web|title=Indian Constitutional Reform.|url=https://www.theyworkforyou.com/debates/?id=1933-11-22a.89.0&s=speaker:21187|access-date=8 April 2021|website=TheyWorkForYou|language=en}}

The International Grand Committee reconvened in Ottawa in May 2019, under the chairmanship of Bob Zimmer, Chair of the House of Commons of Canada Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics; in Dublin in November 2019, under the chairmanship of Hildegarde Naughton TD, Chair of the Dáil Éireann Joint Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment; and virtually in December 2020, under the chairmanship of Congressman David Cicilline, Chair of the US House of Representatives Judiciary Subcommittee on Antitrust, Commercial and Administrative Law.{{Cite web|title=IGC4|url=https://igcd.org/igc4|access-date=8 April 2021|website=IGCD – International Grand Committee on Disinformation|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|title=Evidence – ETHI (42–1) – No. 151 – House of Commons of Canada|url=https://www.ourcommons.ca/DocumentViewer/en/42-1/ETHI/meeting-151/evidence|access-date=8 April 2021|website=www.ourcommons.ca|language=en}}{{Cite news|last=DÁIL ÉIREANN|first=JOINT COMMITTEE ON COMMUNICATIONS, CLIMATE ACTION AND ENVIRONMENT|date=7 November 2019|title=International Grand Committee on Disinformation and 'Fake News'|url=https://data.oireachtas.ie/ie/oireachtas/debateRecord/joint_committee_on_communications_climate_action_and_environment/2019-11-07/debate/mul@/main.pdf|access-date=8 April 2021}}

Collins called for anti-vaccine conspiracy theories to be defined as a category of harmful content in the UK Online Safety Bill, that social media platforms would have a responsibility to protect their users from viewing and sharing.{{Cite web|last=Collins|first=Damian|date=18 November 2020|title=Anti-vaccination disinformation is harmful and must be addressed in the government's Online Harms Bill|url=https://www.politicshome.com/thehouse/article/antivaccination-disinformation-is-harmful-and-must-be-addressed-in-the-governments-online-harms-bill|url-status=live|access-date=8 April 2021|website=Politics Home|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201118123428/https://www.politicshome.com/thehouse/article/antivaccination-disinformation-is-harmful-and-must-be-addressed-in-the-governments-online-harms-bill |archive-date=18 November 2020 }} In March 2020 Collins co-founded a fact-checking service called Infotagion to counter COVID-related disinformation, and in September 2020 joined the Real Facebook Oversight Board.{{Cite web|date=29 March 2020|title=Sharing fake news on coronavirus should be an offence, Tory MP warns|url=https://www.itv.com/news/2020-03-30/sharing-fake-news-on-coronavirus-should-be-an-offence-tory-mp|access-date=8 April 2021|website=ITV News|language=en}}{{Cite web|title=Home|url=https://infotagion.com/|access-date=8 April 2021|website=Infotagion|language=en-GB}}{{Cite web|title=While Facebook works to create an oversight board, industry experts formed their own|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/facebook-real-oversight-board-n1240958|access-date=8 April 2021|website=NBC News|date=25 September 2020 |language=en}}

Collins supports reforms to UK electoral law to ensure that analogue campaign transparency laws apply online; that online political donations are transparent and traceable; and that deepfake films released maliciously during election campaigns should be classified as harmful content that social media platforms are required to remove and prevent further distribution.{{Cite web|last=Collins|first=Damian|date=25 February 2020|title=Our electoral law is under threat in the digital age|url=https://www.politicshome.com/thehouse/article/our-electoral-law-is-under-threat-in-the-digital-age|access-date=8 April 2021|website=Politics Home|language=en}} Collins has said that he believes social media platforms facilitated the storming of Capitol Hill on 6 January 2021.{{Cite news|last=Collins|first=Damian|title=Social media failed in duty of care over Capitol Hill riot|newspaper=The Times|language=en|url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/social-media-failed-in-duty-of-care-over-capitol-hill-riot-0xmb29wfm|access-date=8 April 2021|issn=0140-0460}}

Collins was critical of Facebook's decision to withdraw news services in February 2021 following a dispute with the Australian Government.{{Cite web|last=Collins|first=Damian|date=19 February 2021|title=Facebook's contempt for free press and disregard of legislative democracy should concern us all|url=https://www.politicshome.com/thehouse/article/facebooks-contempt-for-free-press-and-disregard-of-legislative-democracy-should-concern-us-all|url-status=live|access-date=8 April 2021|website=Politics Home|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210222102544/https://www.politicshome.com/thehouse/article/facebooks-contempt-for-free-press-and-disregard-of-legislative-democracy-should-concern-us-all |archive-date=22 February 2021 }} Collins supports competition regulation to curb social media's market power.{{Cite news|last=Collins|first=Damian|date=15 October 2020|title=It's time to protect journalism from big tech|language=en|work=The Times|url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/its-time-to-protect-journalism-from-big-tech-9fj89h5xk|access-date=9 April 2021|issn=0140-0460}}

Collins chaired charity Step Short, which was set up to renovate the Road of Remembrance in Folkestone, through which millions of men marched to boats taking them across the Channel to fight in France and Belgium during the First World War.{{Cite web|title=Damian Collins MP|url=https://www.fhconservatives.org.uk/damian-collins-mp|url-status=live|access-date=8 April 2021|website=fhconservatives.org.uk|publisher=Folkestone and Hythe Conservative Association|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200930030550/https://www.fhconservatives.org.uk/damian-collins-mp |archive-date=30 September 2020 }}{{Cite news|date=4 August 2014|title=Prince Harry unveils WW1 Memorial Arch in Folkestone|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-28642334|access-date=8 April 2021}} To mark its centenary, the charity raised funds for a new memorial arch.{{Cite news|last=Leclere|first=Matt|date=27 June 2014|title=New First World War memorial Arch in Folkestone by charity Step Short completed before Prince Harry visits town|work=KentOnline|url=https://www.kentonline.co.uk/folkestone/news/iconic-arch-to-mark-ww1-19333/|access-date=8 April 2021}} The Step Short Memorial Arch was unveiled by Prince Harry in 2014. Ownership of the Arch has since passed to Folkestone and Hythe District Council.{{Cite web|title=Continuing the legacy of the Step Short memorial arch|url=https://www.folkestone-hythe.gov.uk/article/1024/Continuing-the-legacy-of-the-Step-Short-memorial-arch|access-date=8 April 2021|website=folkestone-hythe.gov.uk|publisher=Folkestone & Hythe District Council}}

In late 2024, Collins became a non-executive director of the London-based private intelligence firm Orbis Business Intelligence co-founded by Christopher Steele.{{cite web |title=About Orbis |url=https://orbisbi.com/about-orbis/ |website=Orbis Business Intelligence |access-date=15 March 2025}}

Collins's paternal grandfather, Noel Collins, was Irish, being from Donnybrook in Dublin. '[https://www.irishtimes.com/news/oxford-educated-son-of-irish-father-poised-for-success-1.657629 Oxford-educated son of Irish father poised for success]' (The Irish Times, Tuesday, 27 April 2010). Collins's father was also born in Dublin. Noel Collins later emigrated, in the mid-1950s, with his wife and children to Great Britain, where the family settled in Northampton. Collins's father was aged six when the family moved to Britain. It was in Northampton that Damian Collins was born.

Collins is married to Sarah Richardson,{{cite web|title=KentOnline's article: 'Meet Kent's newest MPs'|date=19 May 2010|url=https://www.kentonline.co.uk/kent/news/meet-kents-newest-mps-a85091/|access-date=8 April 2021}} who served as Lord Mayor of Westminster from 2013 to 2014.{{cite web|title=City of Westminster's Minutes of Proceedings|url=https://committees.westminster.gov.uk/Data/Council/20130710/Agenda/$02%20-%20Annual%20Council%20Meeting%20Minutes%2015%20May%202013.doc.pdf|access-date=8 April 2021}} Collins and Richardson have two children.{{cite web|title=About Damian Collins|url=https://damiancollins.com/about/|access-date=8 April 2021}} Collins is a Roman Catholic.{{cite web|title=Catholic Herald's article: 'Politics makes a difference'|date=25 January 2018|url=https://catholicherald.co.uk/politics-makes-a-difference/|access-date=8 April 2021}}

Collins is the biographer of Sir Philip Sassoon in Charmed Life: The Phenomenal World of Philip Sassoon (William Collins, 2016) and wrote the chapters on David Lloyd George and Theodore Roosevelt for Iain Dale’s The Prime Ministers and The Presidents.

{{Reflist|30em}}

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• [http://www.damiancollins.com Damian Collins MP] official constituency website
• [http://www.shepwayconservatives.org.uk Folkestone & Hythe Conservatives]
• [http://www.conservatives.com/People/Members_of_Parliament/Collins_Damian.aspx Profile] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629021434/http://www.conservatives.com/People/Members_of_Parliament/Collins_Damian.aspx |date=29 June 2011 }} at the Conservative Party
• {{UK MP links|parliament=damian-collins/3986|hansard=|hansardcurr=5609|guardian=9313/damian-collins|publicwhip=Damian_Collins|theywork=damian_collins|record=Damian-Collins/814|bbc=35404.stm|journalisted=}}
• {{C-SPAN|9278408}}

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{{s-bef|before=Michael Howard}}

{{s-ttl|title=Member of Parliament for Folkestone and Hythe|years=2010–2024}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Collins, Damian}}

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