Liz Kendall has penned a strong letter to Ofcom expressing her deep worry and dissatisfaction regarding the delays in implementing its online safety responsibilities.
The Technology Secretary criticized Ofcom for its slow progress and emphasized that families nationwide have been waiting too long for the safeguards promised by the Online Safety Act (OSA) to be enforced.
She specifically highlighted the issue of online antisemitic content, stressing to Ofcom’s chief executive Dame Melanie Dawes that addressing antisemitism is a top priority for the government.
Ofcom is postponing the rollout of its new duties concerning harmful but legal content, such as discriminatory and offensive material related to race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability.
These responsibilities would require social media platforms to allow adults the option to filter out such content from their feeds, which is already prohibited for children.
In its most recent roadmap, Ofcom disclosed that it does not intend to release the categorization register and seek feedback on the additional duties for categorized services until approximately July 2026.
Although the OSA was enacted in October 2023, Ofcom only recently began utilizing some of its newfound authority. The regulator has faced significant criticism for the sluggish implementation, attributed to extensive consultations on updating its guidelines.
In her communication, Ms. Kendall expressed disappointment in the delays related to additional duties for categorized services outlined in Ofcom’s roadmap, urging expedited action to fulfill these obligations.
She underlined the importance of maintaining momentum to implement the outstanding duties, particularly those concerning user empowerment, which she believes are crucial for safeguarding women, girls, and individuals against antisemitism.
Additionally, Ms. Kendall reiterated the government’s full support for Ofcom to utilize its powers effectively to prioritize user safety and urged the regulator to streamline its processes, especially with respect to user empowerment responsibilities.
Regarding antisemitism, the Cabinet minister emphasized the government’s commitment to combating the dissemination of antisemitic content, echoing the Prime Minister’s stance that addressing this issue is a governmental priority.