Children: Age Verification and Virtual Private Networks

Baroness Jones of Whitchurch Excerpts

Thursday 4th December 2025 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Lloyd of Effra (Lab)]

The noble Lord makes a very good point about the need for accurate, evidence-based research that allows us to take the right action. As noble Lords may have seen, Ofcom published a report this morning setting out a number of methods for researching, for example, the use of VPNs by children. We should also examine technological solutions, as well as advice and guidance, and the role of Ofcom in enforcing the requirements of the Online Safety Act.

[Baroness Jones of Whitchurch (Lab)]

My Lords, while it is of course important that platforms maintain the standards Ofcom has set for them, does my noble friend the Minister also agree that parents have an important role to play in all of this to make sure that the parental controls on devices are implemented in full? Is there not more of a role for digital literacy for adults, to make sure they are keeping a proper eye on what their children are doing and that they comply with the regulations?

[Baroness Lloyd of Effra (Lab)]

My noble friend makes a very important point about the role of all of us in using the technology available to protect ourselves and to equip ourselves to be safe online, and for parents to do that in respect of their children. It is also very important that the Government support literacy campaigns, both for digital skills and online safety. The Government will play their part in supporting parents in that domain.