Questions raised over 'OSA isn't working' justification for under-16s social media ban

Former UK Deputy Information Commissioner Steve Wood has published a series of documents obtained under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) regarding the Online Safety Monitoring and Evaluation Steering Group (OSMESG) set up by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) and Ofcom. The documents form part of the second phase of a research project investigating the impact of regulation on children's digital lives.

Wood's FOI request sought to clarify the group's aims and operations, which the government formally referenced in a 2025 Parliamentary committee. However, DSIT revealed that it holds no meeting minutes, stating that the steering group was a short-lived entity that was not fully operational. DSIT also indicated that it intends to publish its monitoring and evaluation approach online in the future.

Wood notes that the lack of formal documentation raises concerns, particularly as the recent Growing up in the online world national consultation assumed that existing regulation was failing to protect children, leading to proposed social media access restrictions. The initial consultation response omitted any formal evaluation of the Online Safety Act 2023 (OSA). As a consequence, the role of regulatory evaluation in government decision-making remains unclear ahead of a further consultation response due in July.

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