Online Safety Act 2023: Platform Categorisation

Debate between Baroness Lloyd of Effra and Baroness Finlay of Llandaff

Thursday 29th October 2026 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Lloyd of Effra (Lab)]

The focus when taking forward the categorisation duties is to ensure that those duties come into force in 2027. Let me return to the point that I think everyone in this House agrees with: small but risky services should not provide illegal content or harm to children, and Ofcom should take the necessary action to enforce the duties under the Act.

[Baroness Finlay of Llandaff (CB)]

My Lords, how is Ofcom working with the consumer council to look at the control of so-called toys targeted at children as young as three, which have AI responses in them? They are linked to the internet and can give really disgusting, highly sexual answers when children, from the age of three onwards, pose even simple questions.