In the next in our series of articles looking at the key issues arising from the Government's Online Harms White Paper, Lizzie Greene looks at the questions around the new regulator's identity, responsibilities and powers.
The government’s Online Harms White Paper proposes a new online safety framework, to be implemented, overseen and enforced by “an independent regulator” with “effective enforcement powers”. However, the details of who this regulator will be and what enforcement powers it will possess are still rather sketchy. Will it be a new or existing body? How will its responsibilities fit into the existing system? What powers will it have to enforce the new regime? This article looks at the current options on the table, as well as the potential problems.