Skip to main content

Written question asked by Lord Stevenson of Balmacara (Labour) on Monday, 27 October 2025, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Monday, 10 November 2025. It was answered by Baroness Lloyd of Effra (Labour) on Monday, 10 November 2025 on behalf of the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology.


Internet: Advertising

Question

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have the sufficient powers to take down websites that promote or advertise activity offline which would be illegal if it were online.

Answer

Yes, the government considers that Ofcom has sufficient enforcement powers under the Online Safety Act.

The Online Safety Act provides that Ofcom can apply to the courts for business disruption measures (BDMs) in the most egregious cases of non-compliance with duties under the Act. BDMs include access restriction orders requiring third parties to withdraw ‘access facilities’ from regulated services, including websites, in breach of duties’

Services regulated under the Online Safety Act have duties to remove illegal content.


Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
HL11378
Session
2024-26
Subjects
Advertising Internet Regulation
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk