House of Commons · Written Ministerial Statement
Update on Online Harms
12 February 2020 · Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
Proposed by Matt Warman Con Boston and Skegness
Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.
At a glance
Key points
- UK government responds to Online Harms White Paper consultation
- Proposes Ofcom as the independent regulator for online harms
- Will publish full response with policy details in spring before legislation
Issue summary
The statement discusses the UK government's initial response to the Online Harms White Paper consultation, focusing on appointing Ofcom as the online harms regulator.
Action requested
The government is proposing to appoint Ofcom as the independent regulator for online harms and will publish a full response to the consultation in spring with further policy details before legislation. They are also committed to protecting freedom of expression and ensuring companies have a duty of care towards users, particularly children.
Key facts
- The Online Harms White Paper sets out proposals for a statutory duty of care.
- Ofcom is appointed as the online harms regulator due to its expertise and independence.
- Dame Melanie Dawes has been appointed as Ofcom's new Chief Executive.
- Lord Burns will step down by the end of this year to enable a smooth transition with a new Chair.
- 61% of adults and 79% of 12-15 year olds reported having had at least one potentially harmful experience online in the previous 12 months.
- The duty of care will apply to fewer than 5% of UK businesses that facilitate user-generated content sharing.