Online Harms Series: The Regulator

In its initial response to the White Paper published in February 2020, the government indicated that it was “minded” to appoint Ofcom as the regulator responsible for oversight of the new regime, to be primarily funded from industry. While consultation responses were “balanced” as to the benefits and risks of appointing a new body as against extending the powers of an existing one, the government has confirmed Ofcom as the regulator, emphasising that empowering an existing regulator would “help the timely introduction of the online harms regime”.