House of Commons · Written Ministerial Statement
Updates to the Online Safety Act’s illegal content Code of Practice
01 June 2026 · Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
Proposed by Kanishka Narayan Lab Vale of Glamorgan
Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.
At a glance
Key points
- The minister is laying before Parliament an amendment to Ofcom's Codes of Practice for illegal content duties.
- The amendment introduces perceptual hash-matching technologies to prevent the re-uploading and circulation of known non-consensual intimate images.
- These measures will be issued and applied within 21 calendar days if not objected by either House of Parliament.
Issue summary
The statement discusses an amendment to Ofcom’s Codes of Practice for the illegal content duties, which introduces hash-matching technologies to strengthen protections against non-consensual intimate image abuse.
Action requested
The minister is laying before Parliament an amendment to Ofcom’s Codes of Practice, introducing perceptual hash-matching technologies to prevent the re-uploading and circulation of known non-consensual intimate images. If not objected by either House of Parliament, these measures will be issued and applied within 21 calendar days.
Key facts
- The amendment sets a legal expectation for relevant services to use hash-matching technologies or equivalent tools.
- Ofcom submitted an amendment to its Codes of Practice in March 2025.
- Once the amended codes are issued, updated measures will apply from 21 calendar days after issuance.