The UK government and Ofcom are at odds regarding the coverage of misinformation under the Online Safety Act (OSA). During a Commons committee inquiry, Ofcom's Mark Bunting clarified that while the OSA includes advisory provisions regarding disinformation, it lacks explicit measures to combat it. In contrast, government minister Baroness Jones asserted that the OSA encompasses misinformation and disinformation. The discussions were prompted by previous incidents of disinformation, such as the Southport Riots, underscoring the debate's significance in the regulatory landscape of online safety.
Mark Bunting, the director of online safety strategy delivery at Ofcom, noted that while the OSA created an advisory committee on disinformation, it lacks provisions addressing disinformation directly.
Committee chair Chi Onwurah emphasized the challenge of proving intent behind misinformation, pointing out that Ofcom is not obligated to act on misinformation despite existing codes.
Baroness Jones argued that misinformation and disinformation do fall under the Online Safety Act, highlighting the government's perspective in regulatory discussions.
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