Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment he has made of trends in the level of (a) resources and (b) personnel required by Ofcom to protect users of online platforms from content promoting gang violence.

The Online Safety Act gives user-to-user platforms and search services duties to take steps to protect all users from illegal content and children from harmful or age-inappropriate content. This includes duties to take down illegal content which provokes violence, and to protect children from content which encourages or promotes violence.

The Government has ensured Ofcom has the funding it needs to deliver online safety regulation effectively, with £72.6 million allocated for online safety spend in 2025/26. This is an increase from last year and means that Ofcom is increasing its personnel year on year.