Question follow-through · 43251

Data Protection: Age of Consent

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what recent assessment he has made of the potential merits of raising the digital age of consent.

answeredDepartment for Science, Innovation and Technology

About this written question

A written question asks a government minister for information in writing. Parliament publishes the question and any answer.

Answering body
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
Tabled
1 Apr 2025
Target answer date
3 Apr 2025
Answer
9 Apr 2025 · 8 calendar days after tabling

Elapsed calendar days describe the record timeline, not whether Parliament considers an answer on time.

Recorded timeline

  1. 1 Apr 2025

    Question tabled

    To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what recent assessment he has made of the potential merits of raising the digital age of consent.

  2. 3 Apr 2025

    Target answer date

    Date supplied by the official written-questions record.

  3. 9 Apr 2025

    Answer published

    When Information Society Services, such as social media or live streaming sites, rely on consent to process children’s data, consent is only lawful in respect of children under the age of 13 when parental authority has been granted. The current age of con...

Open official record

Official data retrieved 28 Sept 2026.

Later records

Possible follow-up questions

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30 May 2025 · To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if he will introduce legislation to improve online safety laws.

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30 May 2025 · To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what recent discussions he has had with the Chief Medical Officer on the potential merits of raising the digital age of consent.

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30 May 2025 · To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what his planned timetable is for his Department's examination of the digital age of consent.

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16 Sept 2025 · To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, when her Department plans to complete the feasibility study on the potential impact of (a) smartphone and (b) social media use on children’s wellbeing.

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Data Protection: Age of Consent

16 Sept 2025 · To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether she plans to hold a public consultation on her Department's proposed changes to the digital age of consent.

Strong linkSame MP, department and exact heading

Data Protection: Age of Consent

16 Sept 2025 · To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of increasing the digital age of consent.

Unreviewed candidateSame MP and department; topic relationship is unreviewed

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16 Sept 2025 · To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if she will meet the Chief Medical Officer to discuss the potential merits of raising the digital age of consent.

Unreviewed candidateSame MP and department; topic relationship is unreviewed

Internet: Offences against Children

19 Nov 2025 · To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what conversations her Department has had with Ofcom regarding the use of powers under section 121 of the Online Safety Act to detect child sexual abuse and exploitation in private mess

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Internet: Safety

19 Nov 2025 · To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if she will make an assessment of the NSPCC's report, Tools to Combat Online Harms, published in November 2025.

Unreviewed candidateSame MP and department; topic relationship is unreviewed

Internet: Northern Ireland

27 Nov 2025 · To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps she is taking to ensure .eu and .ie domain registration systems recognise Northern Ireland as an eligible territory.

Unreviewed candidateSame MP and department; topic relationship is unreviewed

Mobile Phones and Social Media: Children

8 Dec 2025 · To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, with reference to the Answer of 17 October 2025 to Question 77809, whether her Department's report into the impact of smartphones and social media on children will be published before t

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Social Media: Regulation

9 Dec 2025 · To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether she has made an assessment of the adequacy of self-assessments provided by social media companies on risks of hosting suicide, self-harm and depression-related content in the co