Committee publication · Correspondence · 3 June 2026
Correspondence from Minister for AI and Online Safety, re: Online Safety Act: Ofcom Illegal Content Codes – Targeted Amendment, 18 May 2026
Summary
Minister Kanishka Narayan informs the Science, Innovation and Technology Committee that Ofcom will publish a targeted amendment to its illegal content Codes of Practice on 18 May 2026. The amendment introduces hash-matching technology to prevent recirculation of non-consensual intimate images (NCII). The draft codes will be laid before Parliament, triggering a 40-day scrutiny period before final issuance.
Key findings
- Ofcom is amending its illegal content Codes of Practice to tackle non-consensual intimate image abuse using hash-matching technology to prevent repeated circulation of known abusive content
- The amendment was expedited in response to Government, Parliamentary and stakeholder concern about the serious harms of intimate image abuse
- The measure forms part of broader Government response including the Prime Minister's February announcement on victim protections and a statutory 48-hour takedown duty for NCII
- Draft codes have not yet been approved by the Secretary of State and remain subject to parliamentary scrutiny via a 40-day review period after being laid before Parliament
- Minister intends to lay updated Codes before Parliament at the earliest opportunity following final submission by Ofcom
Tone
ProceduralTopics
online-safetycontent-moderationsafeguarding
Key actors
Kanishka Narayan MP, Dame Chi Onwurah, Ofcom, Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, Prime Minister
Notable line
“"hash - matching" technologies to prevent the repeated circulation of known abusive content.”
Key Quotes
“Ofcom has brought forward this measure on an expedited basis in light of the serious harms associated with intimate image abuse and in response to Government, Parliamentary and stakeholder concern.”
“I intend to lay the updated Codes before Parliament at the earliest opportunity. In line with the procedure set out in the Online Safety Act, this will trigger a 40-day period of Parliamentary scrutiny …”
Source · parliament.uk record ↗