Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether organisations providing online health advice are required to age verify users.

The Online Safety Act applies to services which allow users to post content online or interact with each other. This includes a broad range of websites, apps and other services.

In-scope services must use highly effective age assurance to prevent children from accessing the most harmful types of content, such as content promoting suicide. They must also provide age-appropriate protections from other kinds of harmful content.

Providers do not need to take this action for content which is beneficial to children.