Dame Rachel de Souza, the Children’s Commissioner for England, has publicly challenged the UK’s media regulator, Ofcom, over its handling of child safety data. The dispute centers on risk assessments prepared by major technology companies, which are intended to identify potential harms to minors on their platforms. De Souza argues that these documents are essential for her office to fulfill its mandate of protecting children's interests in the digital space.

Ofcom, which is currently overseeing the implementation of the Online Safety Act, has reportedly declined to share these specific assessments with the Commissioner’s office. While the regulator has not provided a detailed public justification for the refusal, the standoff highlights a growing tension regarding the transparency of the new regulatory framework. De Souza has signaled that she is prepared to utilize her statutory powers—legal authority that allows her to demand information—to force the disclosure of these documents if the regulator continues to withhold them.

The disagreement raises questions about the balance between regulatory confidentiality and the oversight of child protection measures. Proponents of the Commissioner’s position suggest that independent scrutiny is vital to ensure tech companies are held accountable for the risks they identify. Conversely, the regulator's stance suggests a preference for maintaining control over the flow of sensitive corporate data during the early stages of the Online Safety Act's enforcement. As of now, the two bodies remain at an impasse, with the Commissioner’s threat of legal intervention serving as the primary mechanism to escalate the situation.