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Social Media: Safety

Asked by Helen MaguireLiberal DemocratDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled Answered 30 June 2026UIN 11940

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, in what way he plans to ensure that social media companies are held accountable for the design of their platforms.

Answered by Kanishka Narayan

The Online Safety Act places legal duties on platforms to assess and mitigate risks arising from the design and operation of their services, including how features and functionalities may facilitate harm. Companies must implement proportionate systems and processes to prevent and remove illegal content and protect children. These duties are enforced by Ofcom, which has robust powers to monitor compliance, to require transparency, and to take action against non-compliant services.

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