PS26168 - Audit of internet services

Overview

Description ***** THIS IS AN AWARD NOTICE, NOT A CALL FOR COMPETITION ***** This contract has been awarded on CCS Research & Insights DPS RM6126. Brief Description To test the feasibility, effectiveness and scalability of auditing and reporting functions for an auditor of internet services that host pornography in order to inform the government's options to close the online/offline parity gap. • Generate evidence: Produce robust findings on the availability of certain types of pornographic content on a variety of internet services and the apparent compliance challenges to inform policy decisions. • Assess feasibility: Evaluate how auditing of internet services could operate in practice, including technical considerations. • Test capability and limitations: Identify what information can be reliably gathered through audits, including any risks and constraints. • Explore scalability: Assess whether the auditing approach can be applied consistently across a diverse and high-volume online market. • Inform parity options: Provide insight to support ministerial decisions on how the government should most effectively close the online/offline parity gap and whether to pursue an auditing function as part of the response.