Source · Select Committees · Culture, Media and Sport Committee
Recommendation 20
20
Rejected
Convene cross-sector tech abuse working group to produce guidance and code of practice
Conclusion
We want to see words from cross-sector stakeholders on tech abuse now leading to positive actions. The Office for Product Safety and Standards should, at the earliest opportunity, convene a “tech abuse working group” with stakeholders, bringing industry together with researchers, specialist support services and public services. This group should be more than just a talking shop, and draw on research to produce guidance and a code of practice that establishes best practice for manufacturers, vendors and law enforcement. The working group should report publicly through the OPSS on its progress at regular intervals. (Paragraph 138) 70 Connected tech: smart or sinister?
Government Response Summary
The government rejects the recommendation, stating there are no plans for OPSS to convene a tech abuse working group as aspects of tech abuse are addressed in existing policies and legal frameworks, and it is not within OPSS's primary remit.
Government Response
Rejected
HM Government
Rejected
We do not accept this recommendation. The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) is responsible for regulating a range of products to ensure that they are safe and secure, as per their duties as regulator for the Product Security legislation. Therefore there are currently no plans to set up a new group by DSIT, or under OPSS in its role as the enforcement authority for the new product security regulations, to examine tech-enabled abuse. As the legislation requires manufacturers to comply with security requirements that reduce the risk of unauthorised access, this may also have a positive impact on protecting consumers from tech abuse. Aspects of tech abuse are instead addressed in several different UK Government policies and legal frameworks, including domestic abuse law, online safety policy as well as the policy on the security of IoT devices. OPSS will work closely with other Government Departments and stakeholders to ensure that any wider issues that arise from its regulatory role can be taken into account in any further policy development across Government.