Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment has been made of the potential benefits of strengthening advertising regulation in relation to children and young people.

The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) is the independent body responsible for regulating advertising in the UK and co-regulates broadcast advertising under contract with Ofcom. The Committee of Advertising Practice (CAP) and Broadcast Committee of Advertising Practice (BCAP), sister organisations of the ASA, are responsible for codifying the standards for advertising in their CAP and BCAP Codes. Within these codes, specific rules are set out for advertising to children, along with rules to ensure that adverts for age-restricted products are not targeted towards those under the age of 18.

The Government continues to work with industry through the Online Advertising Taskforce to explore non-legislative measures to improve trust, transparency and accountability in the online advertising ecosystem. The Taskforce has agreed a programme of work focused on tackling illegal advertising and minimising children being served advertising for products and services illegal to sell to them. Six industry-led working groups report to the Taskforce, including an age-assurance working group which specifically looks to improve standards to reduce children’s exposure to advertising for age-restructed products. More details on its work can be found in the Online Advertising Taskforce’s Progress Report 2023 - 2024.

The Government is keen to see industry working together in the first instance but will continue to monitor the regulatory framework to see if further legislation is needed.