UK Parliament launches investigation into Ofcom's Online Safety Act enforcement
The UK Communications and Digital Committee has launched an inquiry into the implementation and enforcement of the Online Safety Act 2023. The investigation will assess whether Ofcom is effectively regulating tech platforms and if legislative amendments are needed to address evolving online harms.
Key Takeaways
- Inquiry will assess if technical and legislative amendments are required to address emerging online safety risks.
- Committee Chair Baroness Keeley stated the Act is not working as well as intended regarding platform accountability.
- Written evidence for the inquiry is being accepted until a deadline of 5:00 PM on September 7, 2026.
- Regulator Ofcom faces criticism for the speed and depth of its current enforcement and implementation efforts.
Why It Matters
The outcome of this inquiry could lead to stricter compliance requirements for streaming platforms and social video services operating in the UK. If the Committee finds the current framework insufficient, platforms may face tightened regulations on content moderation and recommender systems. This B2B scrutiny occurs just as Ofcom transitions from consultation to active enforcement, signaling a potential shift in the UK’s regulatory intensity. Strategists should prepare for potential legislative updates that could force changes to technical safety stacks and user reporting mechanisms. Watch for a rise in formal information requests (RFIs) from Ofcom as it seeks to demonstrate more robust oversight to Parliament.
Additional Context
The inquiry launch coincides with significant regulatory milestones for the Online Safety Act (OSA). Per Ofcom, July 2026 was the intended target for publishing the formal register of 'Categorised' services. This designation marks a critical threshold, as Category 1 services—typically those with high UK user bases—face the most stringent transparency and content risk assessment duties. As of July 10, 2026, Ofcom published draft materials for 'Phase 3' of the Act, which specifically targets the UK’s largest online services with additional requirements for fraudulent advertising and user empowerment features. Implementation has been marked by technical and legal delays. For instance, the Wikimedia Foundation initiated a legal challenge against categorisation regulations in 2025, which, per TechUK, contributed to a nearly one-year delay in finalizing the service register. While Ofcom reported in May 2026 that 104 risk assessment records were received under its enforcement programs, critics argue that the regulator's reliance on platform self-reporting has left gaps in protecting the 52% of children who still experience online harm, according to recent Internet Matters data. The inquiry also takes place against a backdrop of broader legislative maneuvers. In mid-2026, the UK government signaled interest in potentially banning social media for under-16s, a move that would build upon the OSA's existing Protection of Children Codes. Simultaneously, the Crime and Policing Act 2026 has introduced powers to potentially expand the OSA’s scope to include generative AI services and chatbots. These developments suggest a widening regulatory net that includes both traditional video distribution and emerging AI-enabled communication tools.
Read full article at committees.parliament.uk
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