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1714620

	registered interest
	date	29/04/2024
	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	Disinformation
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, pursuant to the Answer of 17 April 2024 to Question 902272 on Disinformation, how many information threats the Defending Democracy Taskforce has responded to.
	tabling member constituency	Barnsley Central
	tabling member printed	Dan Jarvis
	uin	24046
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/05/2024 answer text <p>In 2022 the Defending Democracy Taskforce, chaired by the Security Minister, was established to further drive forward work to protect the UK from the full range of threats facing our democratic institutions and processes, including interference with the UK democratic process. The Taskforce engages across government and with Parliament, the UK’s intelligence community, the devolved administrations, local authorities, the private sector, and civil society.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>It would not be appropriate to comment publicly on the volume of information threats the departments which support the Taskforce team have responded to, in part because doing so would give malign actors insight into the scale of the UK’s capabilities to identify and tackle such threats to our democratic processes.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Meriden answering member printed Saqib Bhatti question first answered 02/05/2024 15:26:16 answering member 4818 label Biography information for Saqib Bhatti
	tabling member	4243 label Biography information for Dan Jarvis

1700251

	registered interest
	date	12/04/2024
	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	Department for Science, Innovation and Technology: Disinformation
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of her Department's media literacy strategy in countering (a) mis- and (b) dis-information.
	tabling member constituency	Barnsley Central
	tabling member printed	Dan Jarvis
	uin	21042
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/04/2024 answer text <p>Improving media literacy is one of the government’s key tools in tackling the harm caused by misinformation and disinformation. To demonstrate how the Government is delivering against the objectives of the Online Media Literacy Strategy, we are publishing annual Action Plans each financial year until the end of 2024/25. Through media literacy grant schemes, we have provided almost £2 million in funding to a range of educational projects.</p><p>These projects seek to build the online safety and critical thinking skills of internet users, empowering them to respond effectively to the threats posed by mis- and disinformation, along with other online harms. All funded projects are evaluated robustly, including by independent experts, and findings will be published on gov.uk upon completion. This will improve the effectiveness and efficiency of future media literacy initiatives and inform government policy moving forward.</p><p>As part of this work, we established the Media Literacy Taskforce to bring together organisations in the media literacy landscape to amplify, increase and improve media literacy provision across underserved parts of the UK. Taskforce members advised the government on which projects should be awarded funding, and then helped grant recipients to maximise the impact of their projects.</p><p>Alongside the Strategy, the Online Safety Act 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.</p> answering member constituency Meriden answering member printed Saqib Bhatti question first answered 22/04/2024 10:25:45 answering member 4818 label Biography information for Saqib Bhatti
	tabling member	4243 label Biography information for Dan Jarvis

1693573

	registered interest
	date	04/03/2024
	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: Regulation
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether officials in her Department have had discussions with Ofcom on the adequacy of Ofcom's plans in respect of regulation of the dark web.
	tabling member constituency	Barnsley Central
	tabling member printed	Dan Jarvis
	uin	16788
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/03/2024 answer text <p>The Online Safety Act gives online user-to-user and search providers new duties to tackle illegal user content and activity and keep children on their services safe. Ofcom is the regulator for this regime. It will set out the steps providers can take to fulfil these duties in codes of practice, which must be approved by Parliament before they can take effect.</p><p> </p><p>Ofcom is clear that services on the ‘dark web’ are in scope of the Act. For example, it set this out in its recent consultation on its proposals for how providers should approach their illegal content duties.</p><p> </p><p>The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and Ofcom are working closely together on the implementation of the Online Safety Act.</p> answering member constituency Meriden answering member printed Saqib Bhatti question first answered 07/03/2024 11:12:44 answering member 4818 label Biography information for Saqib Bhatti
	tabling member	4243 label Biography information for Dan Jarvis

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

1692366

	registered interest
	date	28/02/2024
	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	Media Literacy Task Force
	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 times the Media Literacy Taskforce has met in the last 12 months.
	tabling member constituency	Barnsley Central
	tabling member printed	Dan Jarvis
	uin	16122
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/03/2024 answer text <p>The Media Literacy Taskforce provides the government with expert advice on how best to implement our Online Media Literacy Strategy. In the past 12 months we have convened the Taskforce four times. This has included meetings to seek their advice on delivery of the interventions we are funding through our Media Literacy Taskforce Fund, and to consult on research exploring citizens’ barriers to engagement with media literacy initiatives. The report from this research has been published on gov.uk.</p> answering member constituency Meriden answering member printed Saqib Bhatti question first answered 04/03/2024 15:05:41 answering member 4818 label Biography information for Saqib Bhatti
	tabling member	4243 label Biography information for Dan Jarvis

1692371

	registered interest
	date	28/02/2024
	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	National Security Online Information Team
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether her Department plans to publish any of the work produced by the National Security Online Information Team.
	tabling member constituency	Barnsley Central
	tabling member printed	Dan Jarvis
	uin	16125
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/03/2024 answer text <p>The National Security and Online Information Team (NSOIT) tackles online attempts to manipulate the information environment while respecting the right to free speech, by only monitoring themes and trends - not individuals. The team is focused solely on risks posed to national security and public safety, including threats posed by foreign states as well as risks to election integrity.</p><p> </p><p>NSOIT is comprised of civil servants who are employed by DSIT. The team’s size and membership is adjusted according to the nature of the threat which is being faced at any one time. The work produced by NSOIT is shared with other Government departments who have an interest in its areas of focus. However, there are no plans for this work to be published or shared more widely, as this would give malign actors, including hostile states, insights into NSOIT’s capabilities and areas of focus.</p> answering member constituency Meriden answering member printed Saqib Bhatti grouped question UIN 16126 question first answered 04/03/2024 15:03:42 answering member 4818 label Biography information for Saqib Bhatti
	tabling member	4243 label Biography information for Dan Jarvis

1692373

	registered interest
	date	28/02/2024
	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	National Security Online Information Team: Staff
	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 members of staff are currently working at the National Security Online Information Team.
	tabling member constituency	Barnsley Central
	tabling member printed	Dan Jarvis
	uin	16126
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/03/2024 answer text <p>The National Security and Online Information Team (NSOIT) tackles online attempts to manipulate the information environment while respecting the right to free speech, by only monitoring themes and trends - not individuals. The team is focused solely on risks posed to national security and public safety, including threats posed by foreign states as well as risks to election integrity.</p><p> </p><p>NSOIT is comprised of civil servants who are employed by DSIT. The team’s size and membership is adjusted according to the nature of the threat which is being faced at any one time. The work produced by NSOIT is shared with other Government departments who have an interest in its areas of focus. However, there are no plans for this work to be published or shared more widely, as this would give malign actors, including hostile states, insights into NSOIT’s capabilities and areas of focus.</p> answering member constituency Meriden answering member printed Saqib Bhatti grouped question UIN 16125 question first answered 04/03/2024 15:03:42 answering member 4818 label Biography information for Saqib Bhatti
	tabling member	4243 label Biography information for Dan Jarvis

1692160

	registered interest
	date	27/02/2024
	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	Online Safety Act 2023: Prosecutions
	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 prosecutions have taken place under the false communications offence as set out in section 179 of the Online Safety Act 2023.
	tabling member constituency	Barnsley Central
	tabling member printed	Dan Jarvis
	uin	15891
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/03/2024 answer text <p>The false communications offence was introduced by the Online Safety Act 2023 (“the Act”). The communication offences in the Act, including the false communications offence were commenced on 31 January this year.</p><p> </p><p>The Ministry of Justice publish information on prosecutions, convictions and sentence outcomes under specific legislation. The Act gained Royal Assent in October 2023; therefore, it is not yet available in the published figures. Figures up to December 2023 are intended for publication in May 2024.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Meriden answering member printed Saqib Bhatti question first answered 01/03/2024 11:44:06 answering member 4818 label Biography information for Saqib Bhatti
	tabling member	4243 label Biography information for Dan Jarvis

1692161

	registered interest
	date	27/02/2024
	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	Online Safety Act 2023: Enforcement and Fines
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what (a) fines and (b) enforcement actions have been imposed upon telecoms providers since the Online Safety Act 2023 came into force.
	tabling member constituency	Barnsley Central
	tabling member printed	Dan Jarvis
	uin	15892
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/03/2024 answer text <p>The Online Safety Act received Royal Assent on 26 October 2023. As with other areas it regulates, Ofcom must first establish codes of practice and enforcement guidance, before duties come into force and enforcement action can be taken. Ofcom has begun a programme of consultations on the relevant codes and guidance, which are expected to be in force by early 2025.</p><p> </p><p>The new laws in the Act apply to online search services and services that allow users to post content or interact with each other online. They do not apply to services outside of this scope – e.g. ‘offline’ telecoms services.</p> answering member constituency Meriden answering member printed Saqib Bhatti grouped question UIN 15893 question first answered 01/03/2024 11:29:33 answering member 4818 label Biography information for Saqib Bhatti
	tabling member	4243 label Biography information for Dan Jarvis