United KingdomThe Children’s Commissioner for England, Dame Rachel De Souza, has accused Ofcom of withholding tech companies' risk assessments under the Online Safety Act 2023, hindering her ability to assess the legislation's effectiveness. During a House of Lords committee hearing, she stated that Ofcom has refused her request to review these assessments, claiming they will try to prevent her from accessing them. Without this information, she argues, it is impossible to determine whether the Act has led to meaningful improvements in platform safety mechanisms. Ofcom responded by stating that it has already published its analysis of risk assessments and that it is legally restricted in what information it can share with external entities. Dame Rachel has threatened to use her statutory powers to obtain the documents and has sought assistance from the committee.
Bias read (Progressive): The article frames the issue as a conflict between the Children’s Commissioner (a public official) and Ofcom, emphasizing transparency and accountability. It highlights concerns over regulatory oversight and the lack of accessible information, which aligns with progressive advocacy for stronger data
