Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to establish an evidence base which will safeguard the experience of children online, specifically with reference to the impact of gambling advertising and the provisions of the Online Safety Act 2023.

The Online Safety Act (OSA) applies to search services and online platforms that allow users to interact with each other or to post content online. Under the OSA’s child safety duties, from Summer 2025, relevant services will need to conduct risk assessments and take steps to protect child users.

Gambling policy is a matter for DCMS. In addition, the Online Advertising Taskforce supports the aims of DCMS to improve transparency and accountability in the online advertising supply chain. It will deliver work to address illegal advertising and minimise children being served advertising for products and services illegal to sell to them.