Which? response as DCMS and Home Office ministers give evidence to Draft Online Safety Bill Committee

Rocio Concha, Which? Director of Policy and Advocacy, said:

“Ministers have acknowledged the huge impact that an epidemic of fraud is having on our society so it is disappointing they have indicated that paid-for scam advertising will not be tackled through the Online Safety Bill.

“The government must not miss this opportunity to crackdown on one of the biggest sources of fraud online. Given the overwhelming scale and urgency of the problem, it should use this Bill to ensure online platforms take responsibility for stopping criminals using their sites to hurt victims – rather than kicking the can down the road.

“The draft Online Safety Bill needs to be amended so that online platforms are required to prevent fraudulent paid-for adverts from appearing on their sites.”

Statement