Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 32
32
Accepted
Developing technology significantly changes abuse methods, integrating into most domestic abuse cases.
Conclusion
The Domestic Abuse Commissioner also highlighted how developing technology is also contributing to changes in the nature of abuse and the methods used by perpetrators.75 The Gender and Tech Research Lab at University College London, claims that technology has transformed the landscape of VAWG crimes, and highlighted reporting by domestic abuse charity, Refuge, which showed 72% of their cases involved a technology element as of 2019.76 71 Q 94 72 Qq 91–93 73 Q 56 74 VAWG0003 75 Q 14 76 VAWG0012 21
Government Response Summary
The government agrees, outlining that the Online Safety Act's illegal content and child safety duties are or will soon be in force, and DSIT will analyze Ofcom's Online Experiences Tracker from October 2025 to assess impact. DSIT is also working with Ofcom to develop a monitoring framework and expects finalized guidance on protecting women and girls online by end of 2025, while also legislating to criminalize non-consensual intimate images.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
7.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: Winter 2025 7.2 The implementation of the Online Safety Act is a key part of the government’s strategy to tackle VAWG. The government is also exploring interventions to strengthen protections for women and girls online, including current work legislating to criminalize the creation of non-consensual intimate images. 7.3 The Act’s illegal content duties have been in force since March 2025, and from July 2025, the Act’s child safety duties should be in force. The child safety duties will require in- scope services likely to be accessed by children, to protect them from content that is harmful to them. 7.4 From October 2025, DSIT will analyse Ofcom's Online Experiences Tracker, setting out the experiences of 13–17-year-olds and adults on regulated services. This survey may give a view into the early impact of the protections under the illegal content duties, including from harms which disproportionately impact women and girls. 7.5 DSIT expects to see impacts of the child safety duties reflected more in the Spring 2026 Tracker but will aim to update the Committee in six months' time with initial findings from Ofcom’s Tracker. 7.6 DSIT is working with Ofcom to develop a longer-term monitoring and evaluation framework to assess the Act’s impact, including assessing relevant data and crime statistics. 7.7 DSIT expect Ofcom to publish their finalised guidance to protect women and girls online by the end of 2025. Ofcom is also consulting on further measures which may help tackle VAWG, which launched on 30 June 2025. 7.8 DSIT will update the Committee in six months' time on the implementation of the Act and further actions being taken to protect women and girls online.