Select committee: Public Accounts Committee
Conclusion 18
Thirteenth Report - Preparedness for online safety regulation
Published 21 Feb 2024
Addressed to HM Treasury
Public Accounts Committee Preparedness for online safety regulation All items in this report Report on parliament.uk ↗ Inquiry on parliament.uk ↗
Conclusion (the committee's words)
The enforcement action Ofcom can take on online safety regulation includes: fines of up to 10% of global revenues; requirements on the service provider to make changes; business disruption measures that prevent them from accessing the UK market; and criminal sanctions.37 Ofcom explained that any action it takes can be judicially reviewed 26 Q 15 27 Qq 19, 20 28 Q 72; C&AG’s Report, para 3.16 29 Q 25 30 Qq 25, 27, 55 31 Q 51; C&AG’s Report, para 1.14 32 Qq 24, 44, 51 33 Qq 44, 51 34 Qq 24, 52 35 Qq 44, 52 36 Q 47 37 Q 53; C&AG’s Report, figure 3 12 Preparedness for online safety regulation if a company feels that Ofcom has gone too far or does not have the right evidence. Its enforcement decisions will therefore need to be clearly evidenced, proportionate and risk- based, such that any action it takes has an impact and stands up in court.38 38 Qq 54–56 Preparedness for online safety regulation 13 2 Financing the regime and ensuring excellence Financing the regime
From: Public Accounts Committee, Thirteenth Report - Preparedness for online safety regulation (HC 73), 21 February 2024
Government response
The government responded to the whole report on 3 May 2024 (deadline 21 April 2024).
Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.The government agrees with the Committee's recommendations on codes of practice deadlines, compliance monitoring, the fee regime and evaluation, and disagrees with those on complaint feedback and skills audits.
- On codes of practice, the government agrees and states that Ofcom "is on track" to submit its illegal harms and protection of children Codes to the Secretary of State by 26 April 2025.
- On feedback to complainants, the government disagrees, stating that the Act "does not empower Ofcom to adjudicate on individual complaints"; these should go to the provider.
- On the fee regime, the government agrees. Ofcom will consult publicly in Summer 2024, with the aim of implementing the fees regime in the 2026-27 financial year.
- On skills audits, the government disagrees, stating that both organisations "already have effective workforce planning processes", which fulfil the intent of the recommendation.