New Clause 17 - Liability of directors for compliance failure

Online Safety Bill – in the House of Commons at 9:03 pm on 5 December 2022.

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Votes in this debate

‘(1) This section applies where OFCOM considers that there are reasonable grounds for believing that a provider of a regulated service has failed, or is failing, to comply with any enforceable requirement (see section 112) that applies in relation to the service.

(2) If OFCOM considers that the failure results from any—

(a) action,

(b) direction,

(c) neglect, or

(d) with the consent’—(Dame Margaret Hodge.)

This new clause would enable Ofcom to exercise its enforcement powers under Chapter 6, Part 7 of the Bill against individual directors, managers and other officers at a regulated service provider where it considers the provider has failed, or is failing, to comply with any enforceable requirement.

Brought up.

Question put, That the clause be added to the Bill.

Division number 108 Online Safety Bill Report Stage: New Clause 17

Aye: 237 MPs

No: 311 MPs

Aye: A-Z by last name

Tellers

No: A-Z by last name

Tellers

The House divided: Ayes 238, Noes 311.

Question accordingly negatived.