Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, to explain how her Department is fulfilling the user identity verification and non-verified user filter duties contained within the Online Safety Act and whether this involves changes to the statement of strategic priorities for online safety.

Ofcom recently conducted a consultation on additional duties for categorised services, including the duties relating to user empowerment and user identity verification. Ofcom plans to publish final statements on additional duties in 2027. The first transparency reports are also expected in 2027, following the transparency notices which Ofcom must issue. Ofcom as independent regulator is responsible for the measures it sets out in its guidance and Codes.

The additional duties do not depend on changes to the Statement of Strategic Priorities for Online Safety.