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1400339

	hansard heading	Mobile Phones: Newport West
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	answer	answer is ministerial correction answer text <p>Since the end of the Transition Period on 31 December 2020, the UK has no longer been part of the EU Roaming Regulation known as ‘Roam Like at Home’. This means it is a commercial decision for mobile operators as to whether they impose a surcharge on their consumers travelling abroad to the EU for their mobile phone usage.</p><p>As per Ofcom regulations, providers must make sure their contract terms are fair and transparent. They must also tell customers about changes to their contracts. Where those changes will particularly disadvantage customers, providers must give them at least a month’s notice and the right to exit their contracts without being penalised. Further requirements to prevent roaming bill-shock include providers publishing roaming charges on their website and sending alerts with pricing information when customers start roaming. They must also apply a default £45-a-month (exc VAT) cut-off limit on data roaming unless customers choose to extend this. Our advice is that consumers check with their operators before travelling abroad.</p><p>I welcome the recent decision by VirginMedia and O2 to keep roaming free, meaning UK citizens can still use their mobile data, calls and texts across Europe with no extra charges.</p><p> </p> answering member 4503 label Biography information for Chris Philp
	tabling member	4716 label Biography information for Ruth Jones

1400340

	hansard heading	Mobile Phones: Newport West
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	answer	answer is ministerial correction answer text <p>Since the end of the Transition Period on 31 December 2020, the UK has no longer been part of the EU Roaming Regulation known as ‘Roam Like at Home’. This means it is a commercial decision for mobile operators as to whether they impose a surcharge on their consumers travelling abroad to the EU for their mobile phone usage.</p><p>As per Ofcom regulations, providers must make sure their contract terms are fair and transparent. They must also tell customers about changes to their contracts. Where those changes will particularly disadvantage customers, providers must give them at least a month’s notice and the right to exit their contracts without being penalised. Further requirements to prevent roaming bill-shock include providers publishing roaming charges on their website and sending alerts with pricing information when customers start roaming. They must also apply a default £45-a-month (exc VAT) cut-off limit on data roaming unless customers choose to extend this. Our advice is that consumers check with their operators before travelling abroad.</p><p>I welcome the recent decision by VirginMedia and O2 to keep roaming free, meaning UK citizens can still use their mobile data, calls and texts across Europe with no extra charges.</p><p> </p> answering member 4503 label Biography information for Chris Philp
	tabling member	4716 label Biography information for Ruth Jones

1400507

	hansard heading	Gambling: Internet
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	answer	answer is ministerial correction answer text <p>The Online Harms Bill will bring in a regulatory framework for user-to-user services, such as social media and video sharing sites, and search services, such as search engines. Gambling firms are already subject to the specific gambling regulatory regime set out in the 2005 Gambling Act. We are currently reviewing that Act with a focus on ensuring we have the right protections in place to prevent gambling related harm.</p><p>All online gambling operators must already be licensed by the Commission and comply with the strict licence conditions including measures to protect children and vulnerable people. Importantly, this includes a range of controls to ensure that all advertising and marketing, including offers, are provided in a socially responsible way. A number of types of gambling operators are similarly prohibited from providing any form of credit. Those who are able to are subject to the stringent restrictions set out in the Gambling Commission’s Social Responsibility Codes.</p><p>As part of the Act Review’s broad scope, we are looking closely at the effectiveness of the existing measures. We are considering the evidence carefully and will publish a white paper outlining any conclusions and proposals for reform in the coming months.</p> answering member 4503 label Biography information for Chris Philp
	tabling member	4471 label Biography information for Rachael Maskell

1400513

	hansard heading	Gambling: Advertising
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	answer	answer is ministerial correction answer text <p>The Online Harms Bill will bring in a regulatory framework for user-to-user services, such as social media and video sharing sites, and search services, such as search engines. Gambling firms are already subject to the specific gambling regulatory regime set out in the 2005 Gambling Act. We are currently reviewing that Act with a focus on ensuring we have the right protections in place to prevent gambling related harm.</p><p>All online gambling operators must already be licensed by the Commission and comply with the strict licence conditions including measures to protect children and vulnerable people. Importantly, this includes a range of controls to ensure that all advertising and marketing, including offers, are provided in a socially responsible way. A number of types of gambling operators are similarly prohibited from providing any form of credit. Those who are able to are subject to the stringent restrictions set out in the Gambling Commission’s Social Responsibility Codes.</p><p>As part of the Act Review’s broad scope, we are looking closely at the effectiveness of the existing measures. We are considering the evidence carefully and will publish a white paper outlining any conclusions and proposals for reform in the coming months.</p> answering member 4503 label Biography information for Chris Philp
	tabling member	4471 label Biography information for Rachael Maskell

1400412

	hansard heading	Coronavirus: Disinformation
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	answer	answer is ministerial correction answer text <p>The Cross-Whitehall Counter Disinformation Unit (CDU) was established on 5 March 2020, bringing together cross-government monitoring and analysis capabilities. As of 7 January 2022 the CDU is still fully operational.</p><p>Addressing the challenges of disinformation and misinformation is a whole of the government effort. The CDU is resourced full time and works in close partnership with cross-government teams. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the size of the team in DCMS has increased. Requirements are continually reviewed to ensure appropriate levels of resourcing, including surge capacity as needed.</p><p>When false narratives are identified, the CDU coordinates departments across Whitehall to deploy the appropriate response. This can include a direct rebuttal on social media, flagging content to platforms and ensuring public health campaigns are promoted through reliable sources.</p><p> </p> answering member 4503 label Biography information for Chris Philp
	tabling member	4263 label Biography information for Lucy Powell

1400415

	hansard heading	Coronavirus: Disinformation
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	answer	answer is ministerial correction answer text <p>The Cross-Whitehall Counter Disinformation Unit (CDU) was established on 5 March 2020, bringing together cross-government monitoring and analysis capabilities. As of 7 January 2022 the CDU is still fully operational.</p><p>Addressing the challenges of disinformation and misinformation is a whole of the government effort. The CDU is resourced full time and works in close partnership with cross-government teams. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the size of the team in DCMS has increased. Requirements are continually reviewed to ensure appropriate levels of resourcing, including surge capacity as needed.</p><p>When false narratives are identified, the CDU coordinates departments across Whitehall to deploy the appropriate response. This can include a direct rebuttal on social media, flagging content to platforms and ensuring public health campaigns are promoted through reliable sources.</p><p> </p> answering member 4503 label Biography information for Chris Philp
	tabling member	4263 label Biography information for Lucy Powell

1400420

	hansard heading	Coronavirus: Disinformation
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	answer	answer is ministerial correction answer text <p>The Cross-Whitehall Counter Disinformation Unit (CDU) was established on 5 March 2020, bringing together cross-government monitoring and analysis capabilities. As of 7 January 2022 the CDU is still fully operational.</p><p>Addressing the challenges of disinformation and misinformation is a whole of the government effort. The CDU is resourced full time and works in close partnership with cross-government teams. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the size of the team in DCMS has increased. Requirements are continually reviewed to ensure appropriate levels of resourcing, including surge capacity as needed.</p><p>When false narratives are identified, the CDU coordinates departments across Whitehall to deploy the appropriate response. This can include a direct rebuttal on social media, flagging content to platforms and ensuring public health campaigns are promoted through reliable sources.</p><p> </p> answering member 4503 label Biography information for Chris Philp
	tabling member	4263 label Biography information for Lucy Powell

1387642

	hansard heading	Social Media: Abuse
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	answer	answer is ministerial correction answer text <p>Under the draft Online Safety Bill, social media companies will have new duties to protect their users from harmful content such as online abuse. Ofcom, as the independent regulator, will recommend proportionate systems and processes, including for content moderation, that social media companies should put in place to fulfil these duties. We anticipate that Ofcom will recommend a combination of human moderation and other systems, depending on what is effective and proportionate for in-scope services.</p> answering member 4503 label Biography information for Chris Philp
	tabling member	4413 label Biography information for Kirsten Oswald

1387643

	hansard heading	Social Media: Abuse
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	answer	answer is ministerial correction answer text <p>Under the draft Online Safety Bill, social media companies will have new duties to protect their users from harmful content such as online abuse. Ofcom, as the independent regulator, will recommend proportionate systems and processes, including for content moderation, that social media companies should put in place to fulfil these duties. We anticipate that Ofcom will recommend a combination of human moderation and other systems, depending on what is effective and proportionate for in-scope services.</p> answering member 4503 label Biography information for Chris Philp
	tabling member	4413 label Biography information for Kirsten Oswald

1386887

	hansard heading	Disinformation
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	answer	answer is ministerial correction answer text <p>The Counter Disinformation Policy Forum was a six-month pilot programme that concluded on 10 June 2021. It brought together social media companies, academics, fact-checkers and researchers in response to concerns about the serious risk of harm posed by COVID-19 and anti-vaccination mis/disinformation.</p><p>Although the Policy Forum has concluded, DCMS regularly meets with major social media platforms bilaterally and at an Industry Group. This helps further our collective understanding of the issues and the steps being taken to address misinformation and disinformation in order to ensure this issue is tackled effectively. DCMS also continues to engage with relevant cross-sector expertise from across academia and civil society.</p><p>In addition the DCMS-led Counter Disinformation Unit monitors for false and misleading narratives shared on social media. Where dangerous and incorrect claims about the virus are identified these are flagged to the relevant platforms.</p><p> </p> answering member 4503 label Biography information for Chris Philp
	tabling member	4504 label Biography information for Wes Streeting