Children: Age Verification and Virtual Private Networks
Debate between Baroness Lloyd of Effra and Lord Markham(1 week, 6 days ago)
Lords ChamberRead Full debate Read Hansard Text Read Debate Ministerial Extracts
Baroness Lloyd of Effra (Lab)
We have ensured that Ofcom is resourced to implement its online safety duties and have increased the amount available to it year on year; its budget is, I think, £92 million to support all its Online Safety Act responsibilities. We believe that it has the resources it needs to effectively implement and supervise the Online Safety Act.
Lord Markham (Con)
Following on from noble Lords’ comments, to me it is quite clear that Ofcom has a lot of the powers necessary to restrict underage usage but seems to lack the will. That was abundantly clear from the Radio 4 interview this morning. My experience in such matters is that the Ofcom leadership really needs to understand the strength of feeling in this House and Parliament as a whole—that they need to be more robust in enforcement. Will the Minister agree to arrange a meeting with the Ofcom CEO and key Lords here today so that we can fully hold Ofcom to account on this?
Baroness Lloyd of Effra (Lab)
The noble Lord makes an important point about the strength of feeling here, which was replicated in the discussions yesterday in the Select Committee. I am very happy to take forward his request to set up a meeting with Ofcom.
Data Adequacy Status: EU Data Protection Standards
Debate between Baroness Lloyd of Effra and Lord Markham(1 week, 6 days ago)
Lords ChamberRead Full debate Read Hansard Text Read Debate Ministerial Extracts
Baroness Lloyd of Effra (Lab)
The noble Earl asks a very interesting question but one which I am afraid, again, I am unable to give him any deep answer on. I shall have to revert to him on IP in particular.
Lord Markham (Con)
My Lords, in view of the high stakes for UK services in digital trade with the 27 December deadline fast approaching, will the Government publish the adequacy risk assessment and correspondence that they have shared with the Commission, redacted where necessary, so that Parliament and stakeholders can see how they have satisfied themselves that the Data (Use and Access) Act is not put at risk?
Baroness Lloyd of Effra (Lab)
My understanding is that there is a lot of to and fro, and many requests between the EU and UK of a very technical nature to allow the European Commission to make its judgment. Quite a lot of those have been published already, in the European Commission report and in the European Data Protection Board’s opinion. The process by which this is set out is already transparent and clear.