Written question asked by Lord Clement-Jones (Liberal Democrat) on Tuesday, 29 April 2025, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 14 May 2025. It was answered by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch (Labour) on Wednesday, 14 May 2025 on behalf of the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology.

Disinformation

Question: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the decision to rename Ofcom's Advisory Committee on Disinformation and Misinformation the "Committee for Online Information"; and whether the Committee will still have the remit of tackling misinformation.

Answer

Ofcom and its advisory committees are independent of government. The name of the advisory committee is therefore a matter for Ofcom.

The Online Safety Act makes the Committee’s role clear. The Act mandates that the Committee must advise the regulator on how providers should address mis- and disinformation on their services. It also requires them to advise Ofcom on exercising their transparency powers and fulfilling their statutory duty to promote media literacy in relation to mis- and disinformation. These duties remain unchanged and will be the focus of the new Online Information Advisory Committee.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: HL7005
Session: 2024-26
Subjects: Ofcom Disinformation
Link: View this Written question on www.parliament.uk

Disinformation

Secondary information

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