Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made with Cabinet colleagues of the potential impact of charging for Twitter verification on (a) child safeguarding, (b) fraud and cyber-crime and (c) other online harms; and if she will make a statement.

While the government cannot comment on the policies of individual companies, the Online Safety Bill will introduce new duties on search services and user-to-user services, including social media platforms, to protect their users. Companies will have flexibility in how they comply with their new duties, but they will need to meet standards set by Ofcom, the regulator, with regard to child safe-guarding and tackling illegal activity, including fraud.

Companies will be able to fulfil their duties by taking the recommended measures in the codes of practice that Ofcom will issue or by taking alternative action provided the outcome is as good or better.