Online services covered by the United Kingdom’s Online Safety Act must now follow statutory duties governing information requests from parents whose child has died.
The duties in section 75 took effect on 11 November. They are intended to reduce the uncertainty faced by bereaved parents seeking information about a deceased child’s use of a platform. Ofcom has issued final guidance under section 76 explaining the steps providers should take to comply.
After consultation, the regulator retained the broad approach it proposed last December. It added recommendations on communicating when responsibility for a request changes, explaining support-function hours and likely response times, and identifying when disclosed material may be redacted.
The guidance distinguishes legal compliance steps from additional good practice. Ofcom said several operational suggestions raised during consultation fell outside the scope of the statutory duties, even where they might address wider concerns about bereavement support.
Ofcom’s final statement and guidance
