Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Online Safety Act 2023: Effectiveness

Wednesday 10 September 2025 · 3 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 2 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Matt Turmaine (Lab) praised the Online Safety Act 2023 for protecting children and vulnerable people online.
  • Joe Powell (Lab) welcomed the Minister and expressed support for the Online Safety Act, criticising Reform's plans to scrap it.
  • Liz Kendall (Labour) discussed meeting with Ofcom's chief executive and other organizations to strengthen protections for children online.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Matt Turmaine Lab Watford
Culture, Media & Sport
Context

Parents and families in Watford are pleased with the protections being afforded to children through the Online Safety Act. The question seeks further assurance on the effectiveness of these protections.

Question

In my constituency of Watford, parents and families are rightly pleased with the protections being afforded to children and vulnerable people through the Online Safety Act 2023. We would not allow a child to get into a car and drive down the road, to go into an off-licence and buy tobacco or alcohol products, or to go into an adult entertainment establishment, so does the Secretary of State agree that children and vulnerable people need protections in the virtual world, just as they do in the physical one?

Answer from The Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology (Liz Kendall)

I absolutely agree, and that is why I am determined to do everything necessary to remove illegal content and to protect children from online harms. Many years ago, when I was a member of the Science and Technology Committee, as part of a report we were doing, I spoke to children in secondary and primary schools in my constituency to see what they felt were the benefits and difficulties of being online. It is an issue I have been concerned about for many years. I am determined to take action, not just for the fabulous people of Watford, but for children and young people right across the country.

Answered
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Q2 Joe Powell Lab Kensington and Bayswater
Culture, Media & Sport
Context

The question arises from a local campaign in Kensington and Bayswater to protect children online, raising concerns about the potential rollback of protections by Reform.

Question

I also welcome my right hon. Friend to her place. Does she agree that Reform’s reckless plans to scrap the Online Safety Act would fail a generation of young people, including all the parents and children in my constituency of Kensington and Bayswater who have joined my local campaign to protect children online?

Answer from The Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology (Liz Kendall)

Yes. If Reform Members are so concerned about the Online Safety Act, why are they not here in the Chamber asking me questions about it? Reform wants to scrap the Act, which would mean ripping up protections that crack down on revenge porn, violent misogynistic content, and posts encouraging self-harm or suicide. I commend my hon. Friend on his campaign. Families in his constituency want action, and that is what we intend to take. Finally, we are putting child safety first by taking down illegal content, taming toxic algorithms and making age-inappropriate content harder to access. We will go further if we need to.

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Q3 Liz Kendall Lab Velle Triangle
Culture, Media & Sport Science & Technology
Context

The situation involves the rapid advancement of technology and concerns about online safety, particularly for children. The hon. Member has previously discussed these issues with Ofcom's chief executive.

Question

I have already had a discussion with the chief executive of Ofcom and I intend to meet many other organisations, including those that champion stronger protections for children online. The hon. Lady raises the critical issue that we need to protect people’s privacy, and we need to protect freedom of speech, but we also need to make sure that illegal content, and harmful content for children, is removed. What are the government's plans to address these concerns in light of technological advancements?

Answer from The Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology (Liz Kendall)

We do need to adapt to this age of phenomenal technological development. I have already had a discussion with the chief executive of Ofcom and I intend to meet many other organisations, including those that champion stronger protections for children online. The hon. Lady raises the critical issue that we need to protect people’s privacy, and we need to protect freedom of speech, but we also need to make sure that illegal content, and harmful content for children, is removed. I will leave no stone unturned in delivering on that objective.

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