To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch on 10 February (HL4900), which references "hate, terror and offences against women and girls", whether Ofcom’s taskforce is also seeking to address small platforms that promote or glorifies suicide, self-harm and eating disorders.
Answered on
13 March 2025
Ofcom's recent enforcement update highlights its focus on scrutinising platforms that present risks of harm from illegal content, due to their size or nature. This includes smaller sites where users might encounter priority offences such as content that encourages or assists suicide. In its January industry bulletin, Ofcom detailed its approach to driving improvements under the Online Safety Act, such as requiring specific firms - including smaller services of concern - to submit illegal content risk assessments by 31 March. Ofcom also outlined the conditions for enforcement action, including takedown orders, such as in cases of ongoing non-compliance.