Asked by: Lord Clement-Jones (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the new arrangements and communications relating to the roll out of Digital Voice by BT; in particular, what assessment they have made of the clarity of communications to customers regarding opting in or out of the ability to retain their copper connection or move to fibre and how they should do this; whether any opt in or opt out is indefinite or for a limited period; and what are the costs to an individual customer of opting in or opting out.
Answered by Viscount Camrose - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The PSTN switch-off is a necessity, given that the network is past its serviceable life and is experiencing increasing failure rates year-on-year. Ultimately everyone will need to move off a copper connection for safety.
Currently, with the exception of a small number of customers who do not use or need a landline, BT has paused all non-voluntary migrations to Digital Voice. As agreed in the PSTN Charter for Communication Providers in December 2023, non-voluntary migrations will only be restarted once BT can guarantee that all possible steps have been taken to protect vulnerable users. Initially, only customers who are identified as not being vulnerable as a result of the PSTN switch-off, will be migrated. However, the migration of vulnerable customers will still happen at a later point with the appropriate support from BT.
The Department is currently working with BT, among other key stakeholders, to define any groups at a heightened risk during the migration, as per the PSTN charter. If a customer notifies BT of any additional needs, they will also be able to defer their migration.
Customers with vulnerabilities or additional needs who are choosing to move to Digital Voice will be provided with free support from BT, such as an engineer in-home installation, a battery backup unit and/or a hybrid landline-mobile handset.
Customers signing new contracts will be provided with a digital landline by default unless they are identified as a telecare user, in which case their migration will be deferred. Openreach engineers will not currently proceed with a migration during an in-home visit if a telecare device is found at a premises.
Customers should not expect to see any additional fees from migrating to VoIP or continuing to use their PSTN landlines.
Asked by: Lord Clement-Jones (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask His Majesty's Government when they plan to launch a call for evidence on the risks of artificial intelligence to trust in information, as proposed in their consultation outcome published 6 February.
Answered by Viscount Camrose - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The Government recognises the need to both unlock the opportunities and address the potential risks of artificial intelligence.
As outlined in the AI white paper consultation response, government will shortly publish a Call for Evidence on the impact of AI on trust in information, to develop our understanding of this fast moving and nascent area of technological development, including possible mitigations.
This work is part of our programme to seek a range of expert views – including from researchers, academics, and civil society organisations with relevant expertise.
Asked by: Lord Clement-Jones (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to grant the Intelligence and Security Committee oversight of the National Security Online Information Team.
Answered by Viscount Camrose - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The role and remit of the Intelligence and Security Committee of Parliament (the ISC) is set out in the Justice and Security Act 2013 and accompanying Memorandum of Understanding agreed between the Committee and the Prime Minister.
The ISC oversees the policies, expenditure, administration and operations of MI5, SIS, GCHQ, Defence Intelligence, the Joint Intelligence Organisation, the National Security Secretariat and Homeland Security Group.
The National Security and Online Information Team is already overseen by the Science, Innovation and Technology Committee in the House of Commons and the Science and Technology Committee in the House of Lords. Consequently, there are no plans to grant the ISC additional oversight of NSOIT’s work.
Asked by: Lord Clement-Jones (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to ensure that the National Security Online Information Team does not target individuals in the course of its work.
Answered by Viscount Camrose - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The National Security and Online Information Team (NSOIT) tackles online attempts to manipulate the information environment while respecting the right to free speech, by only monitoring themes and trends - not individuals. The team is focused on threats posed by foreign states as well as risks to election integrity. NSOIT has policies and procedures in place, in accordance with all applicable legislation, to ensure that individuals are not monitored. In the limited circumstances where personal data might be inadvertently processed as part of NSOIT’s work, for example where personal data is embedded in text and cannot be automatically anonymised from social media posts, the team complies with the requirements of the Data Protection Act 2018, UK GDPR and Coordinated inauthentic behaviour.
As is the case with a range of national and international public and academic bodies, DSIT has trusted flagger status with the major social media platforms. NSOIT will only flag a social media post where that is in line with ministerial approved remits, the post appears to be in breach of the platform’s terms of service and is likely to cause harm. Social media platforms decide whether or not content is a breach of their terms of service and, if so, what action to take.
Asked by: Lord Clement-Jones (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether the National Security Online Information Team has trusted flagger status with any social media companies.
Answered by Viscount Camrose - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The National Security and Online Information Team (NSOIT) tackles online attempts to manipulate the information environment while respecting the right to free speech, by only monitoring themes and trends - not individuals. The team is focused on threats posed by foreign states as well as risks to election integrity. NSOIT has policies and procedures in place, in accordance with all applicable legislation, to ensure that individuals are not monitored. In the limited circumstances where personal data might be inadvertently processed as part of NSOIT’s work, for example where personal data is embedded in text and cannot be automatically anonymised from social media posts, the team complies with the requirements of the Data Protection Act 2018, UK GDPR and Coordinated inauthentic behaviour.
As is the case with a range of national and international public and academic bodies, DSIT has trusted flagger status with the major social media platforms. NSOIT will only flag a social media post where that is in line with ministerial approved remits, the post appears to be in breach of the platform’s terms of service and is likely to cause harm. Social media platforms decide whether or not content is a breach of their terms of service and, if so, what action to take.
Asked by: Lord Clement-Jones (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to their announcement on 3 July regarding the launch of a pornography review to tackle exploitative, abusive and illegal content online, what update they can provide on plans for that review.
Answered by Viscount Camrose - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
On 1 December, the government announced that Baroness Gabby Bertin has been appointed as the independent lead reviewer for the review of pornography regulation, legislation and enforcement. Details on her announcement and the review’s Terms of Reference can be found on gov.uk: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/illegal-pornography-abuse-and-exploitation-to-be-investigated-by-new-reviewer
Asked by: Lord Clement-Jones (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether Ofcom has any plans (1) to hold discussions with the British Board of Film Classification to support its regulation of online pornography sites, and (2) to collaborate with the Internet Watch Foundation, in relation to child sex abuse material.
Answered by Viscount Camrose - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
Ofcom, as the independent regulator of the Online Safety Act 2023 will decide on the stakeholder engagement it will carry out. It has said that it will engage with a range of stakeholders as it develops its guidance and codes of practice for the regulatory regime.
Asked by: Lord Clement-Jones (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask His Majesty's Government what is their anticipated timeline for the introduction of age verification measures to prevent children’s access to online pornography.
Answered by Viscount Camrose - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The Government is committed to having the Online Safety regulatory regime operational as soon as possible. During passage of the Act, we set an 18-month deadline for Ofcom to finalise certain guidance and codes of practice, including those relating to child safety duties and duties on regulated provider pornographic content.
Ofcom published its draft guidance for Part 5 of the Act (provider pornographic content) on 5 December 2023. The draft codes for children’s safety duties will follow in spring next year. Collectively, these documents will set out the steps firms should take regarding age verification and age estimation measures to prevent children’s access to online pornography. Once Ofcom has issued its final codes of practice and guidance, we will commence the corresponding duties.
We have been clear that we expect companies to take steps now to improve safety, and not wait for codes of practice or guidance to come into force before acting.
Asked by: Lord Clement-Jones (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Viscount Camrose on 3 April (HL6992), whether the incumbent operator in each area have informed consumers that before committing to a new two year full fibre service contract with them they can research other full fibre options available to them in their area.
Answered by Viscount Camrose - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The Government has strengthened Ofcom’s consumer protection rules to ensure consumers have the right level of information to make informed decisions.
As part of this, in February 2020, Ofcom brought in rules requiring communication providers to send a notification to customers nearing the end of their contract, encouraging them to get a new contract. These rules also require providers to send an annual notification for their consumers who are-out-contract, setting out the provider’s best available deals to the consumer.
Within the end-of-contract notification, providers must inform customers of the precise date their contract expires; notice periods should they wish to leave; the best offer available for renewal as well as the price they will pay if they take no action. Providers are not required to advise consumers if competitor services are present in their local area.
Ofcom are responsible for monitoring provider compliance with end-of-contract notification regulations, and recently took action against a provider who failed to issue information to their customers. Using the information contained within their end-of-contract notification, customers can find out what providers operate in their area using Ofcom’s broadband checker. Customers are also able to use one of the Ofcom accredited price comparison sites to see what offers they can access and how they compare to the best deal offered by their current provider.
Asked by: Lord Clement-Jones (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answers by Viscount Camrose on 3 April (HL6992) and 25 April (HL7108), what assessment they have made of whether the battery powered handsets which only last for a short time will be adequate for all but the briefest power cut and for those off the electricity grid.
Answered by Viscount Camrose - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
BT has a range of resilient solutions, including a battery back-up unit and hybrid phone. These solutions are compliant with, and in some cases exceed, Ofcom’s requirement to provide a back-up facility for emergency calls for a minimum of 1 hour during a power outage. It is worth noting that other providers may offer different solutions.
The BT hybrid phone with a mobile SIM card inside is not a solution that will be offered to customers that have no mobile signal where they live. Instead, they will be offered a battery back-up unit which will enable them to make a phone call in the event of a power cut. These solutions are available free-of-charge to vulnerable customers - those who use a telecare device, only use landlines and or are over the age of 75, without mobile signal or broadband or have disclosed other additional needs. These will be available for all to purchase if they wish.
Many Communication Providers, including BT, engage regularly with other broadband providers, Ofcom and power companies about the resilience of their networks and have robust contingency plans in place to protect their customers in the event of planned power outages.
Landline only customers will not be required to take a paid broadband service from providers if they do not wish to. Instead, they will be provided with a dedicated internet connection and router specifically for their landline service at no extra cost.
With regard to telecare systems, lifeline alarm systems or remote ringers, I cannot state definitively which products would function over Digital Voice or which would need modification or replacement, given the range of devices and providers across these sectors. However, Digital Voice telecare devices do exist for all use cases. Furthermore, the switch to Digital Voice has already taken place in other countries; in these cases, all telecare users have been provided Digital Voice compatible devices. DSIT has been working with the Department for Health and Social Care and the telecare industry to raise awareness of the migration and to help identify alternatives, while BT and other providers have set up test labs for manufacturers to test their equipment.
BT has engaged with a broad range of external stakeholders as part of its Digital Voice migration programme. The Digital Voice Advisory Group (DVAG) has advised BT on how best to support and engage with customers who will require additional support to migrate to Digital Voice. Members of the DVAG include representative groups and charities such as Age UK, the Department of Health and Social Care, Independent Age, Rural Services Network, and Which?. BT has also invited other organisations to attend meetings on an ad hoc basis. Other Communication Providers operate similar programmes to raise awareness.
BT has engaged with local authorities in a number of areas related to Digital Voice, although no local authorities are formal members of DVAG. BT is working with local authorities via industry working groups to discuss issues such as telecare and frequently engages with the Local Government Association about Digital Voice.