Written questions

Social Media: Age Assurance

Commons · Question 117078 · Tabled 2 Mar 2026 · Department for Science, Innovation and Technology · Official record

Answered 10 Mar 2026

Question

Asked by Freddie van Mierlo

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps the department is taking to ensure that age verification measures implemented by social media apps such as snapchat in response to the Online Safety Act 2023 are effective.

Answer

Answered by Kanishka Narayan, 10 Mar 2026

As the regulator, Ofcom is responsible for the implementation and enforcement of the Online Safety Act. Ofcom has set out in guidance that age assurance technologies should fulfil the four criteria of technical accuracy, robustness, reliability, and fairn...