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1692745

registered interest
date	29/02/2024
answering body	Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
answering dept id	216
answering dept short name	Science, Innovation and Technology
answering dept sort name	Science, Innovation and Technology
hansard heading	Internet: Disinformation
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether Ofcom has had recent discussions with telecommunications companies on tackling online (a) misinformation and (b) disinformation.
tabling member constituency	Barnsley Central
tabling member printed	Dan Jarvis
uin	16356
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/03/2024 answer text <p>Ofcom will have regular discussions with firms within its regulatory remit, details of those meetings are a matter for Ofcom as the independent regulator.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>Under the Online Safety Act, Ofcom will have responsibility for regulating in-scope companies to ensure they are effectively taking action against illegal disinformation online and disinformation which intersects with the Act’s named categories of harmful content to children. These duties will come into force once Ofcom has completed its consultation and publication of the relevant Codes of Practice.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>The Act also updates Ofcom’s statutory media literacy duty to require it to take tangible steps to prioritise the public's awareness of and resilience to misinformation and disinformation online. These duties are already in force.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>It is a matter for Ofcom to decide what information to publish in the discharge of its regulatory responsibilities.</p> answering member constituency Meriden answering member printed Saqib Bhatti grouped question UIN 16358 question first answered 05/03/2024 15:42:01 answering member 4818 label Biography information for Saqib Bhatti
tabling member	4243 label Biography information for Dan Jarvis

1692749

registered interest
date	29/02/2024
answering body	Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
answering dept id	216
answering dept short name	Science, Innovation and Technology
answering dept sort name	Science, Innovation and Technology
hansard heading	Internet: Disinformation
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, how many cases of online (a) misinformation and (b) disinformation Ofcom has dealt with since the implementation of the Online Safety Act 2023; and if he will ask Ofcom to publish those figures regularly.
tabling member constituency	Barnsley Central
tabling member printed	Dan Jarvis
uin	16358
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/03/2024 answer text <p>Ofcom will have regular discussions with firms within its regulatory remit, details of those meetings are a matter for Ofcom as the independent regulator.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>Under the Online Safety Act, Ofcom will have responsibility for regulating in-scope companies to ensure they are effectively taking action against illegal disinformation online and disinformation which intersects with the Act’s named categories of harmful content to children. These duties will come into force once Ofcom has completed its consultation and publication of the relevant Codes of Practice.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>The Act also updates Ofcom’s statutory media literacy duty to require it to take tangible steps to prioritise the public's awareness of and resilience to misinformation and disinformation online. These duties are already in force.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>It is a matter for Ofcom to decide what information to publish in the discharge of its regulatory responsibilities.</p> answering member constituency Meriden answering member printed Saqib Bhatti grouped question UIN 16356 question first answered 05/03/2024 15:42:01 answering member 4818 label Biography information for Saqib Bhatti
tabling member	4243 label Biography information for Dan Jarvis

1656637

registered interest
date	01/09/2023
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Internet: Disinformation
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to increase young people's (a) awareness of and (b) ability to identify (i) disinformation and (ii) other online harms.
tabling member constituency	Liverpool, Walton
tabling member printed	Dan Carden
uin	196413
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/09/2023 answer text <p>Pupils are taught about online safety and harms through the citizenship, computing and Relationships, Sex and Health Education (RSHE) curriculum.</p><p>Citizenship is statutory within the National Curriculum at key stages 3 and 4 and primary schools can also choose to teach it. Citizenship teaching should equip pupils with the skills and knowledge to explore political and social issues critically, to weigh evidence, debate and make reasoned arguments. Citizenship includes coverage of media literacy topics such as safeguarding democracy and a free media, understanding the role of responsible journalism in democratic society, identifying mis-, dis- and mal- information and countering the effects of negative and harmful news, events and information. The citizenship curriculum can be found here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-curriculum-in-england-citizenship-programmes-of-study" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-curriculum-in-england-citizenship-programmes-of-study</a>.</p><p>The computing curriculum is designed to ensure that pupils can evaluate and apply information technology, including new or unfamiliar technologies, analytically to solve problems, and that they are responsible, competent, confident and creative users of information and communication technology. Using technology safely, securely, respectfully and responsibly is taught at all key stages of the computing curriculum to provide pupils with the e-safety knowledge they need to make informed decisions whilst online. The computing curriculum can be found here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-curriculum-in-england-computing-programmes-of-study" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-curriculum-in-england-computing-programmes-of-study</a>.</p><p>The RSHE curriculum was introduced in 2020 and is compulsory. Pupils are taught about online relationships, the implications of sharing private or personal data online, harmful content and contact, cyberbullying, an over-reliance on social media and where to get help and support for issues that occur online. The RSHE statutory guidance also says that it is important for young people to know what the law says about sex, relationships and young people, as well as broader safeguarding issues. The RSHE statutory guidance can be found here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/relationships-education-relationships-and-sex-education-rse-and-health-education" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/relationships-education-relationships-and-sex-education-rse-and-health-education</a>.</p><p>In health education, under the topic of internet safety and harms, pupils should be taught about how advertising and information is targeted at them and how to be a discerning consumer of information online.</p><p>To support teachers to deliver these topics safely and with confidence, the department has produced the RSHE teacher training modules, ‘online and media’ and ‘internet safety and harms’. The modules can be found here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/guidance/teaching-about-relationships-sex-and-health#train-teachers-on-relationships-sex-and-health-education" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/guidance/teaching-about-relationships-sex-and-health#train-teachers-on-relationships-sex-and-health-education</a>.</p><p>To support schools further, the department has also published ‘Teaching online safety in schools’. This non-statutory guidance aims to support schools in teaching pupils how to stay safe online within new and existing school subjects, such as relationships education, relationships and sex education, health education, citizenship and computing. The guidance outlines the importance of teaching pupils the underpinning knowledge and behaviours that can help them navigate the online world safely and confidently, regardless of the device, platform, or app. This includes how to evaluate what they see online. This will enable pupils to make judgements about what they see online and not automatically assume that what they see is true, valid, or acceptable. The guidance can be found here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/teaching-online-safety-in-schools" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/teaching-online-safety-in-schools</a>.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Wantage answering member printed David Johnston question first answered 12/09/2023 12:35:03 answering member 4761 label Biography information for David Johnston
tabling member	4651 label Biography information for Dan Carden

1605696

registered interest
date	20/03/2023
answering body	Women and Equalities
answering dept id	31
answering dept short name	Women and Equalities
answering dept sort name	Women and Equalities
hansard heading	Internet: Disinformation
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, with reference to action 4 of the report entitled Inclusive Britain: government response to the Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities, published on 17 March 2022, what progress she has made on the RDU's review of online misinformation.
tabling member constituency	Oxford East
tabling member printed	Anneliese Dodds
uin	169400
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/03/2023 answer text <p>When the Minister for Women and Equalities published Inclusive Britain, our ground-breaking strategy for tackling ethnic disparities, she committed to reporting back to Parliament on progress. We will publish the update report shortly, outlining progress against all 74 actions.</p> answering member constituency Lewes answering member printed Maria Caulfield grouped question UIN 169394 169395 169396 169397 169398 169399 169401 169402 169403 169404 169405 169406 169407 169408 169409 169410 169411 169412 question first answered 23/03/2023 17:13:57 answering member 4492 label Biography information for Maria Caulfield
tabling member	4657 label Biography information for Anneliese Dodds

1458929

registered interest
date	20/04/2022
answering body	Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept id	10
answering dept short name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept sort name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
hansard heading	Internet: Disinformation
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to the contract tendered by her Department on 31 March 2022 with procurement reference 102915, what recent assessment she has made of the (a) level and (b) adequacy of knowledge and understanding of (i) civil servants and (ii) Government Ministers relating to harmful misinformation and disinformation online.
tabling member constituency	Islington South and Finsbury
tabling member printed	Emily Thornberry
uin	156414
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/04/2022 answer text <p>The contract opportunity is a re-tender of an existing contract for misinformation and disinformation monitoring and analysis services to support the Counter Disinformation Unit, which brings together capabilities and expertise from across Government to provide a comprehensive picture of the scope, scale, and reach of misinformation and disinformation.</p><p>Ministers and officials work closely with a range of partners with different expertise, including social media platforms, academia, civil society organisations, and commercial partners to ensure a whole society approach to tackling the evolving threat of disinformation and misinformation online.</p> answering member constituency Croydon South answering member printed Chris Philp question first answered 27/04/2022 09:15:51 answering member 4503 label Biography information for Chris Philp
tabling member	1536 label Biography information for Emily Thornberry

1458354

registered interest
date	19/04/2022
answering body	Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept id	10
answering dept short name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept sort name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
hansard heading	Internet: Disinformation
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, if she will publish the full Statement of Requirements for which her department tendered a contract on 31st March under procurement reference 102915, regarding the monitoring and analysis of potentially harmful misinformation and disinformation online.
tabling member constituency	Islington South and Finsbury
tabling member printed	Emily Thornberry
uin	155617
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/04/2022 answer text <p>The contract opportunity is a re-tender of an existing contract for misinformation and disinformation monitoring and analysis services to support the Counter Disinformation Unit to provide a comprehensive picture of the scope, scale, and reach of misinformation and disinformation.</p><p>The contract has been published in accordance with relevant transparency requirements pursuant to the Public Contracts Regulations (2015) and is currently live. Given the sensitive nature of the contract opportunity relates in part to national security, a statement of requirement is only available upon signing a non-disclosure agreement.</p> answering member constituency Croydon South answering member printed Chris Philp question first answered 27/04/2022 09:13:51 answering member 4503 label Biography information for Chris Philp
tabling member	1536 label Biography information for Emily Thornberry

1311150

registered interest
date	21/04/2021
answering body	Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept id	10
answering dept short name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept sort name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
hansard heading	Internet: Disinformation
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps his Department is taking to tackle conspiracy groups that share misinformation online.
tabling member constituency	Preston
tabling member printed	Sir Mark Hendrick
uin	185286
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/04/2021 answer text <p>The Government takes the issue of disinformation very seriously and DCMS is leading work across Government to tackle it. In response to the harmful disinformation and misinformation relating to Covid-19 we stood up the Cross-Whitehall Counter Disinformation Unit on 5 March 2020, which brings together cross-Government monitoring and analysis capabilities.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>We are working closely with social media platforms to help them to quickly identify and respond to potentially harmful content on their platforms, including unfounded conspiracy theories, in line with their terms and conditions.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>We are also working with industry to support the introduction of systems and processes that promote authoritative sources of information. We have seen positive steps taken by social media platforms to curtail the spread of harmful and misleading narratives. Platforms have updated their terms of service and made technical changes to their products, including the addition of labels and warning messages which provide additional context and information on content containing disputed or misleading information related to Covid-19. We welcome those moves, but more action is needed to further limit the spread of misinformation on their platforms - particularly where this could result in real-world harm.</p><p><strong> </strong></p> answering member constituency Gosport answering member printed Caroline Dinenage question first answered 26/04/2021 14:19:14 answering member 4008 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Dinenage
tabling member	473 label Biography information for Sir Mark Hendrick

1311151

registered interest
date	21/04/2021
answering body	Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept id	10
answering dept short name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept sort name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
hansard heading	Internet: Disinformation
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what recent assessment he has made of the extent of QAnon's influence in the UK.
tabling member constituency	Preston
tabling member printed	Sir Mark Hendrick
uin	185287
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/04/2021 answer text <p>The Government is focused on addressing disinformation or misinformation by any group. In response to the harmful disinformation and misinformation relating to Covid-19 we stood up the Cross-Whitehall Counter Disinformation Unit on 5 March 2020, which brings together cross-Government monitoring and analysis capabilities.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>The Unit’s primary function is to provide a comprehensive picture of the extent, scope and impact of disinformation and misinformation regarding Covid-19 and to work with partners to ensure appropriate action is taken.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>There has been no recent assessment of the extent of QAnon’s influence in the UK. However, we have been working closely with social media platforms to quickly identify and help them respond to potentially harmful content on their platforms, including removing harmful content in line with their terms and conditions, and promoting authoritative sources of information.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Gosport answering member printed Caroline Dinenage question first answered 27/04/2021 09:36:12 answering member 4008 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Dinenage
tabling member	473 label Biography information for Sir Mark Hendrick

1283666

registered interest
date	03/02/2021
answering body	Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept id	10
answering dept short name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept sort name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
hansard heading	Internet: Disinformation
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what estimate he has made of the proportion of online misinformation that is circulated via online advertising.
tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne Central
tabling member printed	Chi Onwurah
uin	148775
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/02/2021 answer text <p>The Government takes the issue of misinformation and disinformation very seriously. That is why we stood up the Counter Disinformation Unit in March 2020 to bring together cross-Government monitoring and analysis capabilities and work closely with social media platforms to quickly identify and help them respond to potentially harmful content on their platforms.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>We welcome steps taken by platforms to tackle mis/disinformation related to Covid-19, including the introduction of new policies or steps to ban misleading advertising. In a meeting with the Digital Secretary and Health Secretary in November 2020, platforms also agreed to the principle that no user or company should directly profit from COVID-19 vaccine misinformation.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>As part of the government’s Online Advertising Programme, we held a call for evidence last year on the extent to which consumers are exposed to harmful or misleading advertising online, and whether the scale and speed of online transactions is creating challenges for the existing regulatory system. We will launch a public consultation on measures to enhance the regulation of online advertising in the UK later this year.</p><p><strong><p><p><br></strong></p> answering member constituency Gosport answering member printed Caroline Dinenage question first answered 09/02/2021 10:38:02 answering member 4008 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Dinenage
tabling member	4124 label Biography information for Chi Onwurah

1278364

registered interest
date	19/01/2021
answering body	Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept id	10
answering dept short name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept sort name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
hansard heading	Internet: Disinformation
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what recent steps he has taken to tackle the effect of misinformation online on disordered eating.
tabling member constituency	Pontypridd
tabling member printed	Alex Davies-Jones
uin	140321
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/01/2021 answer text <p>The government is committed to making the UK the safest place to be online.</p><p>The Full Government Response to the Online Harms White Paper consultation, published in December 2020, sets out the government’s plans to introduce a new statutory duty of care. Tech companies will have new responsibilities to protect their users, particularly children, from harmful content, which could include eating disorder content. The Online Safety Bill, which will give effect to the regulatory framework outlined in the full government response, will be ready this year.</p><p>We have asked the Law Commission to review the current legislation on harmful online communications. As part of this review the Government has also asked the Law Commission to examine how the criminal law will address the encouragement or assistance of self harm. The Law Commission has made provisional recommendations and has consulted on these proposed reforms. They will provide final recommendations in summer 2021.</p><p>Online media and digital literacy can equip users with the skills they need to spot dangers online, critically appraise information and take steps to keep themselves and others safe online. The Online Harms White Paper, set out the government’s intention to develop an online media literacy strategy. The strategy will ensure a coordinated and strategic approach to online media literacy education and awareness for children, young people and adults.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Gosport answering member printed Caroline Dinenage question first answered 25/01/2021 09:28:17 answering member 4008 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Dinenage
tabling member	4849 label Biography information for Alex Davies-Jones