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Written question asked by Ben Everitt (Conservative) on Monday, 18 September 2023, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 16 October 2023. It was answered by Paul Scully (Conservative) on Friday, 20 October 2023 on behalf of the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology.

Internet: Children

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether she is taking steps to assess the effectiveness of (a) age verification tools, (b) age estimation tools and (c) other emerging technologies; and if she will take steps to include provisions in the Online Safety Bill to require the use of parental controls to help protect children online.

Answer

The Online Safety Bill concluded parliamentary passage on 19 September. The Bill introduces a duty on Ofcom to produce and publish a report on in scope providers’ use of age verification and age estimation technologies. This must be done within 18 months of the first date on which the duties relating to children’s safety and to regulated provider pornographic content are in force. This report must assess how effective the use of age verification and age estimation has been for the purpose of compliance with the duties set out in the Bill.

The Online Safety Bill is technology neutral in its approach; however, in-scope services must be able to demonstrate how they are complying with the duties set out in the Bill. This includes ensuring and demonstrating that any emerging technologies they use are effective in fulfilling their duties.

While the Bill does not mandate the use of parental controls, Ofcom will set out the steps that providers can take to comply with the child safety duties in codes of practice.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
200008
Session
2022-23
Subjects
Children Internet Protection Safety
Legislation
Online Safety Bill 2021-22 to 2022-23
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk