Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to bring the requests for and creation of non-consensual intimate images from a chatbot into the scope of the image-based abuse offences under sections 66E and 66F of the Sexual Offences Act 2003.

Answered by Baroness Levitt

Section 66E of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 provides for the offence of creating a purported (or ‘deepfake’) intimate image of an adult without their consent or reasonable belief in their consent.

The offence applies regardless of the tool used to create the purported intimate image, so includes the creation of such images without consent using digital tools such as a “chatbot”, a nudification app, or image manipulation software.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to bring the sharing of non-consensual AI-generated intimate images by chatbots into scope of the image-based abuse offences under section 66D of the Sexual Offences Act 2003.

Answered by Baroness Levitt

Section 66D of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 provides information on how to interpret the “sharing or threatening to share intimate photograph or film” offences in section 66B. Section 66D(2) states, “A person “shares” something if the person, by any means, gives or shows it to another person or makes it available to another person.”

“By any means” would include the sharing of such images without consent using digital tools such as a chatbot, app or other software, if a person has requested or prompted the digital tool to do so, whether as part of the creation of the image or as a separate act.

Section 98 and Section 102 of the Crime and Policing Act 2026 will be commenced by regulations as soon as reasonably practicable. We must ensure that there is sufficient time to consider and manage the impact on the criminal justice system and for law enforcement to update guidance as well as train prosecutors and police officers.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask His Majesty's Government when section 98 of the Crime and Policing Act 2026 pertaining to offences relating to semen-defaced images, intimate photographs or films and voyeurism will commence.

Answered by Baroness Levitt

Section 66D of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 provides information on how to interpret the “sharing or threatening to share intimate photograph or film” offences in section 66B. Section 66D(2) states, “A person “shares” something if the person, by any means, gives or shows it to another person or makes it available to another person.”

“By any means” would include the sharing of such images without consent using digital tools such as a chatbot, app or other software, if a person has requested or prompted the digital tool to do so, whether as part of the creation of the image or as a separate act.

Section 98 and Section 102 of the Crime and Policing Act 2026 will be commenced by regulations as soon as reasonably practicable. We must ensure that there is sufficient time to consider and manage the impact on the criminal justice system and for law enforcement to update guidance as well as train prosecutors and police officers.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask His Majesty's Government when section 102 of the Crime and Policing Act 2026 pertaining to image deletion orders will commence.

Answered by Baroness Levitt

Section 66D of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 provides information on how to interpret the “sharing or threatening to share intimate photograph or film” offences in section 66B. Section 66D(2) states, “A person “shares” something if the person, by any means, gives or shows it to another person or makes it available to another person.”

“By any means” would include the sharing of such images without consent using digital tools such as a chatbot, app or other software, if a person has requested or prompted the digital tool to do so, whether as part of the creation of the image or as a separate act.

Section 98 and Section 102 of the Crime and Policing Act 2026 will be commenced by regulations as soon as reasonably practicable. We must ensure that there is sufficient time to consider and manage the impact on the criminal justice system and for law enforcement to update guidance as well as train prosecutors and police officers.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask His Majesty's Government when section 100 of the Crime and Policing Act 2026 pertaining to the 48-hour take-down requirement for intimate image content will commence.

Answered by Baroness Lloyd of Effra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)

Section 100 of the Crime and Policing Act 2026, which introduces a new requirement relating to the removal of reported non-consensual intimate images, commenced on 29 June 2026. The Online Safety Act 2023 provides for Ofcom to prepare and issue codes of practice setting out recommended measures for compliance with relevant duties.

The duty will apply to platforms once the relevant codes have completed the statutory process and come into force. The Government is clear this should happen as soon as possible and is working closely with Ofcom on implementation.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask His Majesty's Government when section 66AE inserted into the Sexual Offences Act 2003 by paragraph 3 of Schedule 13 Part 1 of the Crime and Policing Act 2026 pertaining to creating a copy of intimate photograph or film shared temporarily will commence.

Answered by Baroness Levitt

Section 66AE of the Sexual Offences Act 2003, as inserted by Part 1 of Schedule 13 to the Crime and Policing Act 2026, creates an offence of making a copy of an intimate photograph or film shared temporarily and will be commenced by regulations as soon as reasonably practicable. We must ensure that there is sufficient time to consider and manage the effect on the criminal justice system and for law enforcement to update guidance and train prosecutors and police officers.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government when Schedule 14 (Intimate image material: reporting and registration) of the Crime and Policing Act 2026 will commence.

Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)

Schedule 14 of the Crime and Policing Act 2026 – which enables the Secretary of State to make regulations relating to the reporting and registration of intimate image material - commenced on 29 June 2026, following Royal Assent on 29 April 2026.

The Government scoping exercise on the creation of a register of non-consensual intimate images is underway, and secondary legislation will follow in due course.

Question

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans, if any, they have to introduce an individual right of redress against online platforms.

Answered by Baroness Lloyd of Effra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)

The Online Safety Act contains strong user redress provisions. Complaints procedures must be accessible, easy to use and transparent, and providers must take appropriate action. Ofcom is able to use its enforcement powers in cases of non-compliance by platforms.

The Act requires Ofcom to review the effectiveness of these provisions within two years of their full implementation. With new duties coming into effect for Category 1 services next year, we expect the report to be completed in 2029.

Found: Baroness Fleet; Lord Kirkhope of Harrogate; Lord Knight of Weymouth; Lord McNally; Baroness Owen of Alderley Edge

Found: Baroness Fleet Baroness Keeley (Chair) Lord Kirkhope of Harrogate Lord McNally Baroness Owen of Alderley Edge

Found: Keeley (Chair) Lord Kirkhope of Harrogate Lord Knight of Weymouth Lord McNally Baroness Owen of Alderley Edge

Found: Baroness Fleet Baroness Keeley (Chair) Lord Kirkhope of Harrogate Lord McNally Baroness Owen of Alderley Edge

Submit Evidence (by 7 Sep 2026)

This inquiry will examine whether the Online Safety Act has begun to make online services safer for UK users. The Committee will consider Ofcom's implementation and enforcement of the Act's provisions, the changes made by regulated online services, and what further action may be needed to improve the UK's online safety regime.