Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what conversations her Department has had with Ofcom regarding the use of powers under section 121 of the Online Safety Act to detect child sexual abuse and exploitation in private messaging services.

DSIT is working closely with Ofcom on issues related to the Online Safety Act, including the implementation of Technology Notice powers under section 121. These powers can and should be used to tackle child sexual exploitation and abuse content shared in private messages.

As part of this work, Ofcom ran a consultation on minimum standards of accuracy for accredited technology and draft guidance for providers, which closed in March 2025. Ofcom will publish their advice to the Secretary of State by April 2026.