Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if he will have discussions with Meta on the potential impact of (a) the adequacy of its customer support team and (b) accounts being temporarily disabled on UK businesses; and if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of legislating minimum service standards in those areas to support UK businesses that rely on the services of (i) Meta and (ii) other online platforms.

Ministers and officials have regular meetings with Meta on a range of issues, including their support for UK businesses.

The Online Safety Act (OSA), enacted in October 2023, requires in-scope platforms to have clear and accessible terms of service setting out what kinds of content are allowed on their platforms and in what circumstances they might suspend or ban a user. The Act also mandates that platforms provide users and affected persons with an accessible complaints process if they consider their account has been unfairly restricted or suspended.