The Online Safety Act 2023 established a comprehensive regulatory framework requiring online platforms to identify and mitigate harms to users, with Ofcom as the primary regulator responsible for issuing Codes of Practice, conducting investigations, and enforcing compliance across user-to-user services and search engines.
The Act represents the UK's primary legislative response to online harms including child sexual abuse, suicide promotion, cyber harassment, fraud, and misinformation; implementation failures carry direct public safety consequences and are subject to intense parliamentary scrutiny from bereaved families and civil society.
Implementation is ongoing through 2024–2026, with Ofcom progressing Codes of Practice, category threshold regulations now approved, fees and penalties regime established, and active investigations underway including into Kick Online Entertainment and a suicide forum linked to over 135 UK deaths.
Commons Debate Pack prepared for the Westminster Hall debate of 26 February 2025, providing a comprehensive overview of OSA implementation progress, Ofcom's role, and outstanding issues.
Research publication examining screen time and social media use, directly relevant to OSA implementation debates on child safety and age-appropriate content.
Lords approval of the regulations defining which platforms fall into the highest-risk categories under the OSA, triggering the most stringent duties; a critical implementation milestone.
Approved regulations amending the list of priority offences under the OSA, expanding the scope of illegal content duties on platforms.
Grand Committee scrutiny of the priority offences amendment regulations, with debate on the scope of offences to be treated as priority illegal content.
Grand Committee consideration of regulations defining how platforms' worldwide revenue is calculated for the purposes of OSA fee and penalty thresholds.
Earlier Grand Committee consideration of the 2024 priority offences amendment regulations, an early implementation step expanding illegal content duties.
Ofcom's policy statement on the fees and penalties regime, setting out how platforms will be charged for regulation and the financial penalties for non-compliance.
Published outcome of the October 2024–January 2025 consultation on the fees and penalties regime, confirming Ofcom's approach to funding the regulatory regime.
Consultation on Ofcom's guidance for exercising information-gathering powers under the OSA, including data preservation notices and coroner information notices.
Published outcome including updated guidance on data preservation notices and coroner information notices, reflecting new statutory duties.
Final legislative stage resolving Lords and Commons differences, completing passage of the Online Safety Act 2023.
Third Reading in the Lords with Scottish and Welsh legislative consent granted, immediately preceding Royal Assent.
Commons consideration of Lords amendments including on Ofcom's general duties, a key stage in finalising the Act's scope.
Directly implements the OSA's provisions on Ofcom's funding and enforcement penalties against regulated platforms.
Directly implements OSA information powers provisions, including new duties relevant to bereaved families and coroners.
Why linked: The Act was introduced and passed by the Conservative government with Michelle Donelan and Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay as sponsoring ministers.
Why linked: A written question references the Government's commitment in March 2026 to achieve regulatory parity for pornography under the OSA framework.
Direction: to_committee
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps she is taking to help prevent cyber harassment in online gaming communities.
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether her Department has commissioned research on the (a) scale and (b) impact of misogynistic online content.
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps the Government is taking to coordinate with international partners to address the cross-border spread of misogynistic online content.
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of online safety protections for vulnerable adults, including neurodivergent adults such as those with autism and ADHD; and whether she
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps she is taking steps to prevent and restrict social media sites from being used for child sex trafficking activity.
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, pursuant to the answer of 25 February 2026, to Question 112303, on online censorship of women's health, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of censorship by …
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, with reference to the Government's commitment in March 2026 to achieve regulatory parity for pornography, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the role of a statutory …
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what discussions she has had with Ofcom on progress on its investigation into Kick Online Entertainment S.A. and harmful online content.
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what action has been taken since she met with a group of bereaved families on 19th January to stop UK users accessing a suicide forum responsible for over 135 …
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to tackle the issue of online platforms facilitating information on how to conduct abuse against women, including drug-facilitated sexual assault, especially within intimate partner relationships.
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what consideration the Government has given to introducing further regulations on social media companies to address the prevalence of hate speech online.
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what regulatory steps her Department has taken to prevent technology companies from profiting from online scam advertisements.
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what recent steps her Department has taken to tackle online scam advertising on social media.
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether her Department is taking steps to hold online platforms accountable for fraudulent advertising on their services prior to the full implementation of the Online Safety Act 2023.
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether the Government plans to bring forward further legislation to help prevent and hold online platforms accountable for the monetisation of hate-driven engagement.
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment she has made of the sufficiency of Ofcom's sufficient powers and resources to tackle a specific website linked to over 135 UK deaths and to prevent future …
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what discussions she has had with Ofcom on the adequacy of its powers under the Online Safety Act 2023 to tackle a suicide forum linked to over 135 UK …
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what discussions she has had with Ofcom on the adequacy of the pace of its ongoing investigation of a suicide forum that grooms users to die by suicide.
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps she is taking to ensure that technology companies comply with duties under the Online Safety Act to prevent fraud.
Motion to Approve 15:30:00 Moved by Baroness Lloyd of Effra: That the draft Regulations laid before the House on 21 October be approved. Relevant document: 40th Report from the Secondary Legislation Scrutiny Committee. Considered in Grand Committee on 4 December. …
Considered in Grand Committee 13:17:00 Moved by Baroness Lloyd of Effra: That the Grand Committee do consider the Online Safety Act 2023 (Priority Offences) (Amendment) Regulations 2025. Relevant document: 40th Report from the Secondary Legislation Scrutiny Committee The Parliamentary Under-Secretary …
Considered in Grand Committee 16:35:00 Moved by Lord Leong: That the Grand Committee do consider the Online Safety Act 2023 (Qualifying Worldwide Revenue) Regulations 2025. Relevant document: 31st Report from the Secondary Legislation Scrutiny Committee Lord in Waiting/Government Whip (Lord …
Type: Commons Debate Pack (CDP-2025-0043) There will be a Westminster Hall debate on the implementation of the Online Safety Act 2023 on 26 February 2025. The debate will be opened by Sir Jeremy Wright MP.
Motion to Approve 19:23:00 Moved by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch: That the draft Regulations laid before the House on 16 December 2024 be approved. Relevant document: 13th Report from the Secondary Legislation Scrutiny Committee The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department …
Today we are publishing our policy statement on the implementation of the online safety fees and penalties regime. We have carefully considered responses to our public consultation, which ran from October 2024 to January 2025, and today set out our …
Considered in Grand Committee 17:02:00 Moved by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch: That the Grand Committee do consider the Online Safety Act 2023 (Priority Offences) (Amendment) Regulations 2024. The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Business and Trade and Department for …
Today we are publishing our policy statement on the implementation of the online safety fees and penalties regime. We have carefully considered responses to our public consultation, which ran from October 2024 to January 2025, and today set out our …
15 December 2025 updateToday we are publishing our updated Online Safety Information Powers Guidance, reflecting the new Data Preservation Notices duties and updating our guidance on Coroner Information Notices.We have also published our Statement on Data Preservation Notices which addresses …
15 December 2025 updateToday we are publishing our updated Online Safety Information Powers Guidance, reflecting the new Data Preservation Notices duties and updating our guidance on Coroner Information Notices.We have also published our Statement on Data Preservation Notices which addresses …
Commons Amendments and Reasons 15:32:00 Motion A Moved by Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay: That this House do not insist on its Amendment 17 and do agree with the Commons in their Amendments 17A and 17B in lieu. 1 7 …
Returned from the Commons The Bill was returned from the Commons with amendments and reasons. House adjourned at 8.17 pm.
Motion made, and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 83A(7)), That the following provisions shall apply to the Online Safety Bill for the purpose of supplementing the Order of 19 April 2022 in the last session of Parliament (Online Safety …
Consideration of Lords amendments Clause 82 General duties of OFCOM under section 3 of the Communications Act 14:11:00 The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology (Paul Scully): I beg to move amendment (a) to Lords amendment 182. …
Third Reading 15:39:00 Relevant document: 40th Report from the Delegated Powers Committee. Scottish and Welsh Legislative Consent granted . The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Culture, Media and Sport (Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay) (Con): My Lords, I will …
Report (5th Day) 16:19:00 Relevant documents: 28th and 38th Reports from the Delegated Powers Committee , 15th Report from the Constitution Committee . Scottish and Welsh L egislative C onsent granted . Amendment 236C Moved by 236C: After Clause 194, …
Report (4th Day) Relevant documents: 28th and 38th Reports from the Delegated Powers Committee, 15th Report from the Constitution Committee. Scottish and Welsh Legislative Consent granted. 15:41:00 Amendment 186A Moved by 186A: Before Clause 64, insert the following new Clause— …
Report (3rd Day) Relevant documents: 28th and 38th Reports from the Delegated Powers Committee, 15th Report from the Constitution Committee. Scottish and Welsh Legislative Consent granted. 16:00:00 Clause 38: Procedure for issuing codes of practice Amendment 129 Moved by 129: …
Report (2nd Day) 15:56:00 Relevant documents: 28th and 38th Reports from the Delegated Powers Committee, 15th Report from the Constitution Committee . Scottish and Welsh Legislative Consent granted . Clause 10: Children’s risk assessment duties Debate on Amendment 34 resumed. …
Report (2nd Day) (Continued) 21:01:00 Amendment 84 Moved by 84: Clause 19, page 24, line 4, at end insert “, and (Disclosure of information about use of service by deceased child users) (deceased child users).” Member’s explanatory statement This amendment …
Report (1st Day) 12:05:00 Relevant documents: 28th and 38th Reports from the Delegated Powers Committee and 15th Report from the Constitution Committee . Scottish and Welsh legislative consent granted . Amendment 1 Moved by 1: Before Clause 1, insert the …
Report (1st Day) (Continued) 14:48:00 Schedule 1: Exempt user-to-user and search services Amendment 27 Moved by 27: Schedule 1, page 185, line 11, leave out from “provider” to end of line 13 and insert “, including where the publication of …
Report (1st Day) (Continued) 18:08:00 Clause 6: Providers of user-to-user services: duties of care Amendment 32 Moved by 32: Clause 6, page 5, line 29, at end insert— “(ba) the duties about assessments related to adult user empowerment set out …
Order of Consideration Motion 15:19:00 Moved by Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay: That the amendments for the Report stage be marshalled and considered in the following order: Clause 1, Clauses 162 to 172, Schedule 14, Clauses 2 and 3, Schedules …
Committee (10th Day) 12:16:00 Relevant document: 28th Report from the Delegated Powers Committee Clause 91: Power to require information Amendment 198 Moved by 198: Clause 91, page 82, line 14, at end insert— “(o) the purpose of obtaining information relevant …
Committee (10th Day) (Continued) 15:04:00 Clause 146: OFCOM’s report about researchers’ access to information Amendment 230 Moved by 230: Clause 146, page 128, line 35, leave out from “publish” to end of line 36 and insert “an interim report within …
Committee (9th Day) 11:52:00 Relevant document: 28th Report from the Delegated Powers Committee Clause 49: “Regulated user-generated content”, “user-generated content”, “news publisher content” Amendment 125 Moved by 125: Clause 49, page 47, line 22, at end insert— “(c) machine-generated content …
Committee (9th Day) (Continued) 14:42:00 Schedule 7: Priority offences Amendment 134 Moved by 134: Schedule 7, page 202, line 9, at end insert— “Animal cruelty A1_ An offence under section 4 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006 (unnecessary suffering).A2_ An …
Committee (9th Day) (Continued) 16:46:00 Clause 68: Transparency reports about certain Part 3 services Amendment 160A Moved by 160A: Clause 68, page 62, line 23, leave out paragraph (d) and insert— “(d) be made publicly available, subject to appropriate redactions, …
Committee (8th Day) 16:36:00 Relevant documents: 28th Report from the Delegated Powers Committee Clause 38: Procedure for issuing codes of practice Amendment 110 Moved by 110: Clause 38, page 38, line 24, leave out subsections (2) to (8) and insert— …
Committee (8th Day) (Continued) 21:29:00 Clause 49: “Regulated user-generated content”, “user-generated content”, “news publisher content” Amendment 124 Moved by 124: Clause 49, page 47, line 6, at end insert— “(2A) Subsection (2)(e) does not apply in respect of a regulated …
Committee (7th Day) Relevant document: 28th Report from the Delegated Powers Committe e 15:19:00 Amendment 56 Moved by 56: After Clause 17, insert the following new Clause— “OFCOM reviews of complaints systems (1) Within the period of one year beginning …
Committee (7th Day) (Continued) 20:45:00 Clause 36: Codes of practice about duties Amendment 98A Moved by 98A: Clause 36, page 37, line 29, at end insert— “(ga) the Children’s Commissioner,(gb) the Commissioner for Victims and Witnesses,(gc) the Domestic Abuse Commissioner,”Member’s …
Committee (6th Day) 15:17:00 Relevant document: 28th Report from the Delegated Powers Committe e Clause 14: Duties to protect news publisher content Amendment 50B Moved by 50B: Clause 14, page 15, line 30, leave out “subsection (2)(a)” and insert “this …
Committee (5th Day) Relevant document: 28th Report from the Delegated Powers Committee 15:37:00 Debate on Amendment 33B resumed. Lord Moylan (Con): My Lords, I will speak to Amendment 155 in my name, and I am grateful for the support of …
Committee (5th Day) (Continued) 19:42:00 Clause 12: User empowerment duties Debate on Amendment 38 resumed. Baroness Buscombe (Con): My Lords, before we continue this debate, I want to understand why we have changed the system so that we break part …
Committee (4th Day) 16:18:00 Relevant document: 28th Report from the Delegated Powers Committee Clause 11: Safety duties protecting children Amendment 23 Moved by 23: Clause 11, page 10, line 9, at beginning insert “eliminate,” Member’s explanatory statement This amendment would …
Committee (4th Day) (Continued) 20:24:00 Clause 11: Safety duties protecting children Debate on Amendment 29 resumed. Baroness Kidron (CB): My Lords, I support the noble Baroness, Lady Ritchie, in her search to make it clear that we do not need …
Committee (3rd Day) 11:51:00 Relevant document: 28th Report from the Delegated Powers Committee Clause 6: Providers of user-to-user services: duties of care Amendment 13 Moved by 13: Clause 6, page 5, line 33, after “services” insert “that are not Category …
Committee (3rd Day) (Continued) 15:03:00 Clause 8: Illegal content risk assessment duties Amendment 16 Moved by 16: Clause 8, page 7, line 16, after “governance,” insert “terms of service,” Member’s explanatory statement This amendment makes clear that “design and operation …
Committee (2nd Day) Relevant document: 28th Report from the Delegated Powers Committee 15:46:00 Clause 3: “Regulated service”, “Part 3 service” etc Amendment 2 Moved by 2: Clause 3, page 3, line 14, at end insert— “(d) an internet service, other …
Committee (2nd Day) (Continued) 20:39:00 Amendment 12BA Moved by 12BA: Clause 6, page 5, line 16, at end insert— “(g) the duties on regulated provider pornographic content set out in section 72.”Member’s explanatory statement This amendment requires user-to-user services to …
Committee (1st Day) Relevant document: 28th Report from the Delegated Powers Committee 16:49:00 Clause 1 agreed. Amendment 1 Moved by 1: After Clause 1, insert the following new Clause— “Purposes of Act (1) This Act has the following purposes—(a) to …
Motion made, and Question proposed, That the period on the expiry of which proceedings on the Online Safety Bill shall lapse in pursuance of paragraph (13) of Standing Order No. 80A shall be extended by 18 weeks until 20 July …
Second Reading 16:57:00 Moved by Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay: That the Bill be now read a second time. The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay) (Con): My Lords, I …
Order of Consideration Motion Moved by Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay: That the bill be committed to a Committee of the Whole House, and that it be an instruction to the Committee of the Whole House that they consider the …
First Reading 15:52:00 The Bill was brought from the Commons, read a first time and ordered to be printed.
Consideration of Bill, as amended, on re-committal, in the Public Bill Committee [Relevant documents: Second Report of the Petitions Committee of Session 2021-22, Tackling Online Abuse, HC 766, and the Government response, HC 1224 ; Letter from the Chair of …
[2nd Allocated Day] [Relevant documents: Report of the Joint Committee on the Draft Online Safety Bill, Session 2021-22: Draft Online Safety Bill, HC 609, and the Government Response, CP 640; First Report of the Digital, Cultural, Media and Sport Committee, …
Private Notice Question 15:32:00 Asked by Baroness Kidron: To ask His Majesty’s Government, in light of the Prevention of Future Deaths Report published at the conclusion of the Molly Russell inquest, what plans they have to bring forward the Online …
Day 1 Consideration of Bill, as amended in the Public Bill Committee [Relevant Documents: Report of the Joint Committee on the Draft Online Safety Bill, Session 2021-22: Draft Online Safety Bill, HC 609, and the Government Response, CP 640; Letter …
[Relevant Documents: Report of the Joint Committee on the Draft Online Safety Bill, Session 2021-22: Draft Online Safety Bill, HC 609, and the Government Response, CM 640; Eighth Report of the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee, The Draft Online …
Allan Dorans (Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock) (SNP): 2. What recent discussions she has held with (a) Cabinet colleagues and (b) civil society groups on the proposed Online Safety Bill. The Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (Ms …
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