Recommendation 16

Ofcom cannot undertake enforcement action until the codes of practice are published and, in some instances, set before parliament.31 Ofcom plans to publish its first codes, on illegal harms and protecting children, within 18 months of the Bill becoming law (April 2025).32 We asked Ofcom how it plans to reduce online harms and prepare service providers for regulation before the codes become enforceable.33 Ofcom responded that the consultation documents on its various codes of practice and guidance for service providers will set out practical steps which providers can take now to protect users before their duties become fully enforceable .34 It had also set up its supervision team and begun engaging with the supervised service providers to encourage these to start to comply in the short- to medium- term before their statutory duties become enforceable, and to make its expectations very clear.35