Consultation: Draft guidance for super-complaints under the Online Safety Act 2023

Ofcom was appointed the online safety regulator under the Online Safety Act 2023 (‘the Act’) in October 2023. The Act allows expert organisations representing users or the public to raise a 'super-complaint' with Ofcom. The purpose of super-complaints is to allow such organisations to bring robust evidence and facts to our attention about the most significant online harms and restrictions on free expression arising on regulated online services.

This is an important way in which external organisations can help Ofcom by identifying significant risks to users or the public. Ofcom has a fixed period to consider each super-complaint and publish a response.

Ofcom is required to publish guidance on super-complaints and is currently consulting on a draft version. It explains:

• What super-complaints are;
• The role of super-complaints in Ofcom’s regulatory approach to online safety;
• Which organisations are eligible to bring a super-complaint;
• How organisations can demonstrate their eligibility;
• The rules and procedures for making a super-complaint; and
• The steps Ofcom will typically take in relation to a super-complaint.

Responding to this consultation

Submit responses using the response form by no later than 5pm on 3 November 2025.