Technology Secretary Liz Kendall has warned that Ofcom risks losing public trust if it fails to enforce the Online Safety Act effectively. In an interview, Kendall expressed deep disappointment with the regulator's pace in implementing measures designed to protect users from harmful content on platforms like social media and pornography websites.
Kendall told Ofcom’s chief executive, Melanie Dawes, that the regulator must act decisively. “They know that if they don’t implement [and] use the powers that they’ve got in the act, they will lose the trust of the public,” she said. The warning follows criticism from Ian Russell, father of Molly Russell, who said he had lost trust in Ofcom’s leadership after his daughter’s death linked to harmful online content.
Kendall also raised concerns about AI chatbots, citing US lawsuits involving teenagers who died by suicide after forming attachments to chatbots like ChatGPT and Character.AI. “If chatbots aren’t included or properly covered by the legislation… then they will have to be,” she said, emphasising the need to ensure children’s safety.
Ofcom has defended its progress, stating that delays were beyond its control and that “change is happening”. However, parts of the online safety regime are not expected to be fully in force until mid-2027, nearly four years after the act became law. The regulator recently fined a nudify app £50,000 for failing to protect children from pornography, only its second fine under the act.
Separately, Kendall announced a new AI “growth zone” in Wales, aiming to attract £10bn in investment and create 5,000 jobs. The government also plans to use £100m to support British AI startups. However, Microsoft, cited as a partner, said it was not making new investment commitments, and a Labour MP accused the company of “ripping off” UK taxpayers through government deals worth at least £1.9bn in 2024-25.
