Communications and Digital Committee

LordsSelectest. 23 Apr 2007Email ↗● Actively Monitored
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Sessions analysed29
Commitments41
Positions89
Recommendations111

Latest Signals

15 Sept 2026Ofcom says social media and child safety remain the core dutyPosition
“[Speaker: Oliver Griffiths] This is what the Act was primarily aimed at. Society has said absolutely that there is not freedom to operate in this space. If you look at initiatives such as the social media ban, there is a sense that there needs to be an intervention to address a problem that is there. The Act itself, of course, put duties on the companies; it is clear that that is where the duty lies for them.”
15 Sept 2026Ofcom accepts overall child-safety effect is still limitedConcern
15 Sept 2026Ofcom disputes the claim that it has not used its teethDisagreement
15 Sept 2026Ofcom says it has not received a formal request for risk assessmentsConcern
15 Sept 2026Ofcom says the Act is already changing online servicesPosition
15 Sept 2026Ofcom says the Act’s safe harbour limits enforcementConcern
15 Sept 2026Ofcom says fines are often unpaid, though this should improveConcern
15 Sept 2026Ofcom says proactive monitoring is held back by privacy and legal thresholdsConcern

Recent Sessions

View all (29)
15 Sept 2026Ofcom on Online Safety Act gaps and enforcement
2 commit2 pos7 concern3 rec2 disag3 leg
01 Sept 2026Online Safety Act: Children, Ofcom and AI harms
1 pos3 concern4 rec1 leg
15 Jul 2026BBC charter review: platforms, AI and funding
2 commit7 pos1 concern6 rec
16 Jun 2026BBC charter review: PSB distribution, R&D and AI
2 pos1 concern5 rec
09 Jun 2026BBC charter: creative economy and skills
1 commit1 pos3 concern3 rec1 disag
02 Jun 2026BBC charter review: platforms, partnerships and R&D
3 pos6 concern6 rec1 disag1 leg

Recent Commitments

View all (41)

Recent Recommendations

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Frequent Witnesses

Department for Science, Innovation and Technology3× · 12 insights
BBC2× · 28 insights
Ofcom2× · 27 insights
University College London2× · 9 insights
Department for Culture, Media and Sport2× · 9 insights
Independent Review of Arts Council England1× · 12 insights

About this committee

The Communications and Digital Committee of the House of Lords scrutinises policy and regulation across digital infrastructure, online safety, artificial intelligence, and creative industries. Operating as a House of Lords Select Committee, it takes oral evidence from witnesses and conducts detailed inquiries into emerging issues. The committee has focused extensively on artificial intelligence and copyright, conducting a series of sessions examining UK licensing frameworks and international approaches to protect rights holders, with evidence gathering from relevant stakeholders across the creative sector. It has also investigated implementation of the Online Safety Act, including examination of Ofcom's codes and proactive technology measures to address live-streaming safeguards. Recent work has addressed the Arts and Humanities Research Council's reforms through the Hodge independent review, reflecting the committee's broad remit across the digital economy and cultural sectors.