Lords select committee launches inquiry into OSA and Ofcom

The Communications and Digital Committee (CDC), a House of Lords select committee, has launched an inquiry and public consultation regarding the effectiveness of the Online Safety Act 2023 (OSA). The investigation follows criticism that the OSA remains ineffective and that Ofcom, the regulator responsible for its implementation, has failed to hold technology companies to account with sufficient speed or rigour.

The committee's inquiry will consider whether the OSA has rendered regulated online services safer for UK users, particularly children, women, and vulnerable groups. It will assess Ofcom's enforcement of illegal content and child protection duties, examining whether platforms have made meaningful changes to risk mitigation, design features, and complaint mechanisms.

In addition, the inquiry will consider potential flaws in the legislative framework itself, such as unintended consequences for freedom of expression and privacy, as well as how effectively the framework adapts to emerging technologies. It will also consider the proposed social media restrictions for under-16s. 

The consultation closes on 7 September 2026.

In related news, Reuters reports that a study published on Friday by Australia's internet regulator, the eSafety Commissioner (eSafety), found that more than eight in ten Australian teenagers continued using social media three months after the government introduced a ban on under-16s on 10 December last year. 

Most children aged 10 to 15 used social media platforms just as frequently in March as before the legislation took effect. The regulator noted that under-16s who held accounts before the ban were largely able to retain them or open new ones, attributing this to a failure by platforms to establish robust age-assurance measures.

Despite the ongoing usage, account ownership among children declined from 52 per cent to 42 per cent overall. eSafety reported statistically significant reductions in account holding specifically across YouTube, Snapchat, and TikTok. The study also highlighted a decrease in parental awareness regarding children's online habits during the same period.

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