Committees

Online safety and online harms

Inquiry

The Sub-Committee will investigate how focus has shifted since the introduction of the Online Safety Strategy Green Paper in 2017, including concerns that the definition of harm is now too narrow and may fail to address issues such as non-state intervention in elections, racist abuse and content that contributes to self-harm and negative body image. It will also explore key omissions of the draft Bill, such as a general duty for tech companies to deal with reasonably foreseeable harms, a focus on transparency and due process mechanisms or regulatory powers to deal with urgent security threats and how any gaps can be filled before the Bill is finalised. Another focus will be on where lessons can be learnt from international efforts to regulate big tech, such as in France, Germany and Australia.

This inquiry by the House of Commons DCMS Sub-Committee is distinct from any work by the Joint Committee on the Draft Online Safety Bill, established by the House of Lords and the House of Commons on 23 July. 

This inquiry is no longer accepting evidence

The deadline for submissions was Friday 3 September 2021.

Upcoming events

View all events

No upcoming events scheduled

Past events

Formal meeting (oral evidence session)
18 January 2022 - 11am to 12:30pm
Grimond Room
Formal meeting (oral evidence session)
14 December 2021 - 10am to 12:30pm
Room 5, Palace of Westminster
Formal meeting (oral evidence session)
9 November 2021 - 10am to 12:30pm
The Grimond Room, Portcullis House
Formal meeting (oral evidence session)
26 October 2021 - 10am to 12:30pm
Room 8, Palace of Westminster

Contact us

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  • Email: cmscom@parliament.uk
  • Phone: (General Enquiries) 020 7219 6188 / (Media Enquiries) 020 7219 6832
  • Address: DCMS Committee (Online Harms and Disinformation), House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA