Information for research about online safety matters
The provisions in this Act allow the Secretary of State to make regulations that create a new framework that would permit researchers access to information held by certain providers of internet services, for the purposes of research into online safety matters. OFCOM prepared a report, laid in Parliament on 8 July 2025, that provides significant evidence on the issue of access to online safety data for researchers. This report will provide a solid evidence base to inform the design of the access framework, and the Secretary of State will be under a duty to consult with OFCOM and other appropriate bodies before making regulations.