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Written question asked by Angus MacDonald (Liberal Democrat) on Friday, 20 March 2026, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 24 March 2026. It was answered by Kanishka Narayan (Labour) on Monday, 30 March 2026 on behalf of the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology.

Internet: Fraud

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what measures her Department is implementing to help ensure big tech companies do not profit from fraudulent activity on their platforms.

Answer

The Online Safety Act lists fraud as priority illegal content, meaning in-scope services including social media and search providers must prevent and minimise fraudulent user-generated content from appearing on their services and swiftly remove it if it does. In-scope user-to-user services must also manage the risk that their service may be used to facilitate fraud offences.

Category 1 and 2A services (including large social media and search providers respectively) will have additional duties to tackle paid-for fraudulent advertising. Ofcom is responsible for designating categorised services and aims to publish the categorisation register in July.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
122624
Session
2024-26
Grouped for answer
Yes
Subjects
Companies Fraud Internet Profits
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk