Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 8
8
Accepted
Ofcom's online safety regulation preparation was challenging but benefited from extended timelines.
Conclusion
Ofcom has been preparing for its new regulatory role since 2020 when the government confirmed its decision to appoint Ofcom as the regulator for online safety.10 Ofcom told us that there was no regulation of comparable scale and ambition, and that it therefore had to start from scratch in 2020. Both the scope and the timetable of the Bill changed significantly during its passage through Parliament.11 For example, in March 2022, the government removed previously core duties to tackle legal but harmful content.12 We questioned Ofcom about the impact the changes in scope and delays to the expected Bill timetable had on its preparation. Ofcom responded that, although it had been challenging for it to stay on track, the extra time had been quite helpful as it enabled it to progress its preparations and to move swiftly after the Bill became law. The Department and Ofcom both told us that they had had a close and collaborative relationship during this set-up period in order to be as ready as they could be on the day after the Bill received Royal Assent.13 Handling complaints
Government Response Summary
The government agrees and states that Ofcom is on track to meet the April 2025 deadline for submitting its Codes of Practice, having completed the illegal harms consultation and planning to publish the protection of children 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.