Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, a) what tools Government can use to ensure big technology companies comply with the new proposals, b) enforce strong age verification systems, and c) make their social media platforms safer for the wider public.

Ofcom has strong enforcement powers under the Online Safety Act 2023 and has the government’s support to use the full range of the powers available to it. These powers will support the effective enforcement of the ban on social media companies from offering their services to under 16s, and requirements such as robust age assurance.

The Secretary of State wrote to Ofcom’s leadership this week to make clear that enforcement of the Act, and these new protections, must be treated as a top priority.