To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions Ofcom has had with (a) social media companies and (b) citizen and consumer groups on online harms in 2020.
Answered on
16 September 2020
Ofcom has responsibility for the video sharing platform (VSP) regime which will come into force by this Autumn. Ofcom is working constructively alongside industry to develop the foundations both for this regime and any future online regulation. Through its engagement with stakeholders, Ofcom will ensure its guidance for the VSP regime is informed by robust evidence, best practice and an understanding of the current capabilities of different services.
Ofcom also has regular ongoing engagement with a wide variety of online-related bodies in the delivery of its media literacy duties including through the Making Sense of Media (MSOM) programme, which brings together organisations and individuals with expertise in media literacy with a shared goal of improving the online skills, knowledge and understanding of UK adults and children.
In February 2020, the Government published the initial consultation response to the Online Harms White Paper and announced that it was minded to appoint Ofcom as the online harms regulator. Further details will be included in the full government response to the consultation, which we will publish later this year.