Political Monitor 16/07/2021

16 July 2021

ISPA Survey

ISPA Survey – Please participate

We want to hear from you to help us understand how we’re doing and what our priorities should be.
As a membership organisation that is proud to represent more than 150 members, we are keen to hear from as many of you as possible. The survey aims to help inform and improve our work and:

• Get an updated picture of who ISPA represents
• Understand satisfaction on current services
• Gain feedback to help plan our future work

All responses will be treated as confidential. We will share anonymised trends and themes from the survey with members in a follow up report. Please fill the survey here. Everyone who enter and leaves their email address will receive a film voucher curtsey of ISPA partner Netgem. Two entrants will receive a bottle of champagne!

Ofcom

Consultation on Universal Broadband Service Rules

Ofcom published a consultation on modifying universal broadband service rules to clarify how BT should provide quotes to customers. Ofcom propose to modify USO rules to clarify that, where excess costs are very high, BT should inform customers of total excess costs and have the agreement to cover these costs before delivering the connection. The aim of this proposal is to help numerous customers receive lower quotes in the future when applying for connection under USO. The consultation closes on 10^th September 2021.

Ofcom have also suspended their investigation into whether BT have failed to comply with its obligations following assurances that it will take steps to mitigate the consumer harm identified by Ofcom.

Broadband

BDUK Consultation on gigabit-capable broadband in Cornwall and Isles of Scilly

BDUK launched a consultation seeking views on existing or planned gigabit-capable broadband infrastructure in Cornwall and Isles of Scilly. The consultation is looking for information and support evidence from all relevant stakeholders including the public, businesses, ISPs and broadband infrastructure operators. The consultation closes on 16^th August 2021 at 5pm.

Written Question on the Electronic Communications Code

Bim Afolami MP (Con) asked whether the Government plans to reform ECC to make it easier for companies to install infrastructure to support full fibre Gigabit broadband in blocks of flats and rural areas. DCMS Minister Matt Warman MP highlighted the recent ECC consultation as well as the Telecommunications Infrastructure (Leasehold Property) Act which makes it easier for telecoms companies to access multi-dwelling buildings where a tenant has requested a new connection, but the landlord has not responded to request for access. Warman flags the consultation seeking views on the terms to accompany the interim Code rights which closes on 4^th August.

Written question on Community Fibre Partnership vouchers

Daniel Kawczynski MP (Con) asked what reason the Department has changed the value of vouchers on the Community Fibre Partnership from the value that was originally agreed. Warman replied explaining the Community Fibre Partnerships are an Openreach product used on the Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme and the costings are determined by Openreach.

Written questions on Social Tariff

Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (CB) asked two questions on Social Tariffs including what plans DCMS have to monitor their effectiveness and what steps they are taking to ensure broadband internet access is affordable for people in receipt of low income and benefits. DCMS Minister Baroness Barran highlighted the range of social tariffs available on the market and that the Government is continuing to encourage fixed-line providers to introduce social tariffs. Barran also highlighted the Government’s work with Ofcom, who has a statutory duty to review affordability of telecommunications services, and the strengthening of Ofcom’s consumer protection rules.

Cyber

Bill Committee continue through amendments

Proposed amendments to the Telecoms Security Bill were discussed during the first and second day of the Committee Stage in the House of Lords. Amendments covered a wide range of topics including:

• Increasing parliamentary oversight, particularly around the role of Ofcom
• Requirements for the Secretary of State to consult a Technical Advisory Board on requirements for providers
• Ensuring codes of practice do not place “undue burdens” on networks or services
• Implementing a horizon-scanning body

All amendments were withdrawn following a statement from DCMS Minister Baroness Barran or Conservative Whip Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay. The next Committee session will be held on Monday 19th July.

Written Question on the Cyber Essentials scheme

Shadow DCMS Minister Chi Onwurah asked how many SME cyber businesses had taken up the Government’s Cyber Essentials scheme to date. DCMS Minister Mat Warman replied that at the end of June 2021, 70,859 Cyber Essentials certificates have been awarded to organisations in the UK, including 55,645 to small and medium sized organisations.

Government announces creation of UK Cyber Cluster Collaboration

DCMS awarded £700,000 of funding to UK Cyber Cluster Collaboration (UKC3), a network of 20 regional clusters of cyber businesses, employers and local organisations. UKC3 was created to address skills gaps and a lack of business support, and provide a focal point for industry stakeholders to engage with.

Written Question on the Cyber Strategy

Baroness Merron (Lab) asked when the Government will publish the updated Cyber Strategy. Cabinet Office Minister Lord True explained that work is under way to develop the strategy and the Government plans to continue engaging with partners before publishing it later this year and aligning with funding decisions in the next spending review.

Liability

Urgent Question on Racist Abuse on social media

Nick Thomas-Symonds (Lab) asked an urgent question to the Home Office regarding the prevalence of racist abuse on social media. Key points from the Urgent Question include:

• Home Office Minister Victoria Atkins MP responded to the Urgent Question condemning racism and stated that measures to tackle illegal and legal but harmful abuse, including racist abuse, through the introduction of the Online Safety Bill. Atkins stated that if major platforms do not meet their own standards and address abuse quickly and effectively, they could face enforcement action.
• Atkins has asked the Law Commission to look at online crimes to ensure the position is up to date and meets the Government’s expectations.
• Atkins stated that they are opening the Bill to pre-legislative scrutiny to ensure the Government gets the Bill right.
• Home Affairs Committee Chair Yvette Cooper MP (Lab) asked what the Online Safety Bill will do to take action on the speed of removing posts and penalise companies for not moving fast enough.
• Atkins responded that the Bill is an opportunity for the Government to lay the law down and Parliamentarians to make their views known. Atkins urged companies to listen carefully, if they do not listen the Government will act.

Online Media Literacy Strategy

DCMS published the Online Media Literacy Strategy with the aim to educate and empower internet users to manage their online safety in 2021-2022. The strategy highlights a number of barriers for some groups to improve their media literacy rates including:

• Limited online experience with users who spend less time online have less opportunity to practice media literacy skills.
• Barriers to accessing technology.
• Limited access to media literacy education.

Some user groups have particular requirements to be met and challengers that need to be overcome to have a safer online experience.

• Users who are vulnerable to disproportionate abuse need to be supported and upskilled to protect them online.
• Vulnerable users who are already vulnerable to certain harms online.
• 40% of users do not have the skills to critically assess online content.
• All user groups struggle to apply media literacy knowledge and skills in an online environment.

The strategy identifies evaluation, funding, hard-to-reach audiences, vulnerable users, building resilience to disinformation and coordination as the key challenges facing the media literacy sector. The strategy presents numerous ways to tackle these challenges and principles that should be followed by users.
The framework covers Data and privacy, the online environment, information consumption, online consequences and online engagement. The Government will publish a Media Literacy Action plan outlining the initiatives to be delivered that year.

DCMS Committee report on Economics of music streaming

The DCMS Committee published the final report of its inquiry into the Economics of Music Streaming. Alongside a range of recommendations on business models and value chains, the report touches on Safe Harbour.

The Committee uses Safe Harbour as a short hand to describe the defenses that are provided to mere conduits, hosting and caching providers under the e-Commerce Directive (and subsequent legislation).

While being critical of Safe Harbour provisions overall, the Committee stopped short of recommending a review of the defenses. Instead, the Committee concluded that Safe Harbour provisions have given services hosting user-generated content a competitive advantage. Noting that the CMA has developed a pro-competition framework for tech companies with ‘strategic market status’ that dominate digital music, the Committee recommended that the CMA considers exploring designating YouTube’s streaming services as having strategic market status to encourage competition with its products.

Written Question on Online Safety Guidance

Catherine McKinnell MP (Lab) asked if DCMS will publish the social media companies, other online platforms and experts on online harms that the Department have consulted with in the process of creating the Online Safety Guidance if you own or manage an online platform. DCMS Minister Caroline Dinenage MP responded it was developed in consultation with relevant SMEs and startups, but they are unable to publicly name the individual companies that took part. DCMS had however worked with relevant industry bodies including Tech Nation, Coalition for a Digital Economy and FSB.

Written Question on ISP-blocking of child abuse content

Lord Hylton (CB) asked what discussions Government had with the Internet Watch Foundation about obliging ISPs to block child pornography and help prevent sexual abuse of children. Home Office Minister Baroness Williams stated that the Internet Watch Foundation plays a crucial role in tackling online child sexual exploitation and abuse and the Government routinely engages with the them. The Government strongly supported the join Internet Watch Foundation and NSPCC “Report Remove” Initiative. The Home Office has also funded the Internet Watch Foundation campaign to help children and parents understand the risks which can be posed online.

Subgroup news

Cyber

• ISPA responded to the DCMS call for views on Managed Service Provider supply chain security.
• ISPA continued to monitor the Telecoms Security Bill and covered the Bill as it began the committee stage in the House of Lords. ISPA shared an overview of the sessions with members.

Liability

ISPA has organised a call with the ICO to discuss the Age-Appropriate Design Code.