On 31st January this year, on foot of recommendations arising from pre-legislative scrutiny of the General Scheme of the Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill, I established an Expert Group on an individual complaints mechanism in respect of online safety. In particular, the Expert Group was tasked with assessing whether it would be practicable to provide for an individual complaints mechanism in the Bill and, if so, how it may be done.
I have now received the report and the recommendations of the Expert Group and I am currently reviewing these with a view to determining the appropriate next steps. As I have said previously, if it is practicable, workable, and legally robust to provide for the establishment of an individual complaints mechanism within the Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill then I would like to see that it is done.