Asked by: Baroness Foster of Aghadrumsee (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of adequacy of existing enforcement powers and resources available to Ofcom and law enforcement bodies to prevent the distribution and monetisation of violent, degrading or illegal pornographic content online; and what plans they have to bring forward further legislative or resourcing proposals.
Answered by Baroness Lloyd of Effra - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
Ofcom has a suite of enforcement powers to deploy where providers fail to comply with their duties under the Online Safety Act to deal with illegal content and content harmful to children. These include powers to fine up to 10% of qualifying worldwide revenue. Ofcom has launched an enforcement programme to protect children encountering pornographic content.
The Independent Pornography Review published its final report on 27 February 2025. The government is grateful to Baroness Bertin for her Review. It is right that the government takes time to understand this complex yet deeply important topic.
Asked by: Baroness Foster of Aghadrumsee (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they will set out a full timetable for the implementation of the recommendations of the Independent Pornography Review, published on 27 February.
Answered by Baroness Lloyd of Effra - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
We welcome the findings of the Independent Pornography Review and the valuable insights it has provided into the online pornography landscape. The government continues to consider the findings of the Review and its thirty-two recommendations. Due to the cross departmental nature of the Review’s recommendations, we are not yet able to provide a timeline for the Government’s response. We will provide a further update in due course.
Asked by: Baroness Foster of Aghadrumsee (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to reduce children's exposure to harmful online content, and what further measures they plan to take following the Online Safety Act 2023 to prevent children under 18 from accessing pornographic material online.
Answered by Baroness Lloyd of Effra - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Online Safety Act requires all in-scope services to tackle illegal content and criminal behaviour online to protect adults and children, including extreme pornography.
Services in scope of the OSA likely to be accessed by children which allow pornography are required to implement highly effective age assurance to prevent children encountering this online.
Additionally, these services must use highly effective age assurance to prevent children encountering self-harm, suicide and eating disorder content online. They must also provide age-appropriate protections against other harmful content.
We will not hesitate to go further to protect children online where evidence shows this is necessary.