Committee publication · Correspondence · 24 June 2026
Correspondence from Minister for AI and Online Safety, re: Online Safety Act: Ofcom illegal codes update, 16 June
Summary
Minister Kanishka Narayan informs the Science, Innovation and Technology Committee that on 18 June 2026 she will lay draft amendments to Ofcom's Illegal Content and Protection of Children codes of practice before Parliament. The amendments strengthen platform responses during public safety crises by requiring internal crisis protocols, post-crisis analysis reports, and coordination with law enforcement, without imposing new content duties.
Key findings
- Draft amendments to Ofcom's Illegal Content Codes and Protection of Children Codes for user-to-user services will be tabled on 18 June 2026
- Amendments require platforms to establish internal crisis response protocols and conduct post-crisis analysis reports shared with Ofcom
- Larger services must establish dedicated communication channels with law enforcement during public safety crises
- Amendments clarify existing regulatory duties under the Online Safety Act 2023 rather than imposing new content moderation obligations
- Draft amendments subject to 40-day parliamentary scrutiny period under statutory process
Tone
ProceduralTopics
online-safetycontent-moderationcrisis-responseregulatory-framework
Key actors
Kanishka Narayan, Dame Chi Onwurah, Department for Science, Innovation & Technology, Ofcom, Parliament
Notable line
“… services. Instead, they clarify how providers can demonstrate compliance with their existing regulatory duties under the Online Safety Act …”
Key Quotes
“These amendments strengthen how platforms respond to illegal content during public safety crises by setting out clear expectations of how far services should prepare for and manage such events.”
“These amendments do not place new content duties on services. Instead, they clarify how providers can demonstrate compliance with their existing regulatory duties under the Online Safety Act …”
“These amendments represent an important step in strengthening the online safety framework and respond to sustained parliamentary and public interest in how platforms act during crises.”
Source · parliament.uk record ↗