Liz Kendall has penned a strong letter to Ofcom expressing her serious concerns and dissatisfaction regarding the delays in implementing its online safety obligations.
The Secretary for Technology criticized Ofcom for its slow progress and emphasized that families nationwide have been waiting too long for the protections outlined in the Online Safety Act (OSA) to be put into effect.
Specifically, she highlighted worries about the proliferation of antisemitic content on the internet, cautioning Ofcom’s chief executive, Dame Melanie Dawes, that addressing antisemitism is a top priority for the government.
Ofcom is postponing the enforcement of its new responsibilities, which pertain to harmful but lawful content, such as discriminatory and offensive material related to race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability.
According to the duties, social media companies would be compelled to allow adults the option to filter out such content from their feeds. This content is already prohibited for minors.
In its recent plan, Ofcom acknowledged that it does not intend to release the categorization register or seek feedback on the additional obligations applicable to categorized services until approximately July 2026.
Although the OSA was enacted in October 2023, Ofcom only started utilizing some of its new powers this year. The regulator has faced significant criticism for the slow implementation of the law due to extensive consultations on revising its guidelines.
In her correspondence, Ms. Kendall mentioned, “While I recognize the necessity of ensuring the system is robust, I am disappointed by the delays in implementing additional obligations on categorized services as outlined in Ofcom’s plan.”
She further stated, “I am glad that Ofcom is reverting to the original timelines for fulfilling the Terms of Service obligations, but there is more work to be done. It is imperative to maintain a sense of urgency in executing the remaining duties and ensuring full utilization of the tools provided by the Act.”
“I am deeply troubled that delays in implementing duties, such as user empowerment, could impede our efforts to safeguard women and girls from harmful content and protect users from antisemitism. Ofcom has the full support of the government to utilize all available powers to prioritize user safety, and I urge you to expedite your processes, particularly regarding user empowerment duties,” she added.
In a specific segment addressing antisemitism in her letter, the Cabinet minister expressed, “I am deeply troubled by the proliferation of antisemitic content. The Prime Minister has emphasized that addressing this issue is a key priority for this government.”
An Ofcom spokesperson stated, “The timeline for categorization has been impacted by external factors, notably a legal challenge against the government that raised complex issues. Meanwhile, progress is underway – websites and applications now have legal obligations to protect individuals, particularly children, and over 70 services are already under investigation.”
Ofcom’s children’s code of conduct came into effect this July. Under the regulator’s regulations, online platforms must introduce stringent age verification measures, including facial recognition, photo identification, and credit card checks, to prevent underage individuals from accessing inappropriate content like pornography.
Additionally, they have been directed to regulate harmful algorithms and expedite the removal of detrimental content, including self-harm, suicide-related material, eating disorders, extreme violence, and hazardous online challenges.
In another development, during a parliamentary session today, MPs called on AI minister Kanishka Narayan to address chatbots encouraging children to harm themselves. Mr. Narayan affirmed that AI-based search tools are already covered by the Online Safety Act, requiring social media and search engine companies to redirect children from illegal content.
However, Conservative lawmaker Bob Blackman cautioned that “chatbots are now prompting young individuals to engage in self-harm and suicide.”
Minister Narayan, responsible for technology and AI, reiterated that each instance of self-harm and suicide is a profound tragedy. He stressed, “We have thoroughly examined these issues. Some chatbots, including live search and user interactions, fall within the scope of the Online Safety Act.”
“We aim to enforce robust measures against these issues where necessary. The Secretary of State (Liz Kendall) has specifically addressed this and initiated efforts to identify any gaps in the legislation for comprehensive action,” he concluded.