Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 7
7
Accepted
Ofcom has produced only 10 of 54 required documents for online safety regime implementation.
Conclusion
As part of its implementation of the regime, and before the regime can take real effect, Ofcom will have to produce 54 documents setting out different parts of the regulations, including formal codes of practice and guidance for regulated service providers, risk registers and pieces of research. At the time we took evidence Ofcom had so far produced 10 of these documents.9
Government Response Summary
The government states that Ofcom is on track to meet the statutory deadline of April 2025 for submitting its Codes of Practice on illegal harms and child protection. Ofcom has issued its illegal harms consultation and will publish its child protection consultation in May 2024.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
1.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: April 2025 1.2 The Online Safety Act 2023 (the Act) requires Ofcom to submit its Codes of Practice on illegal harms and protection of children to the Secretary of State within 18 months of the Act becoming law, by 26 April 2025. 1.3 Ofcom is on track to meet this deadline. Ofcom’s illegal harms consultation was issued on 9 November 2023, it closed on 23 February 2024 and Ofcom is now analysing the responses with a view to publishing a statement in late 2024. Ofcom will also publish its protection of children consultation in May 2024. Ofcom is confident that it will issue a statement on the protection of children in time to meet the statutory deadline.