UK COUNCIL FOR INTERNET SAFETY
Executive Board meeting minutes
27 November 2018
 Church House, Westminster
 
Item 1 - Welcome and Introductory remarks
 
●	The Minister for Digital and the Creative Industries (MDCI) welcomed members to the first UK Council for Internet Safety (UKCIS), introducing new members and thanking previous members of UKCCIS for their ongoing commitment.
●	MDCI provided a brief update on the joint DCMS and Home Office Online Harms White paper. The paper will be published in winter 2018/19 and will set out the Government's approach to online safety, addressing a wide range of harms, from those that are illegal, to those which are harmful but not necessarily illegal. The Government is currently developing proposals for regulatory and non-regulatory measures.
 
There was a brief discussion on the specific areas in which members felt that UKCIS will most be able to make a difference, and the areas in which Council members could contribute:
 
●	Board members suggested that UKCIS might focus on areas of online gaming, links between online and offline abuse, tracking policy developments, groups with particular vulnerabilities, and action on ‘legal but harmful’ content, for example on extremism. It was noted that the Evidence Working Group already had evidence regarding vulnerable groups in scope of its work.
●	The ongoing role of the established Working Groups (Evidence, Education, Technology, Resilience) was discussed, and it was noted that the widening scope of UKCIS affects each of these groups slightly differently. It was agreed that, where the scope of specific working groups widens to incorporate a broader range of harms, the Working Group Chair will ensure that group expertise also evolves appropriately.
●	Members highlighted that part of the unique value of UKCIS now lies in the breadth of its expertise, diversity of its viewpoints and inclusivity of its approach.
●	There were challenges around the role and contribution of Associate Members – and in particular, the need to ensure that the objectives of these groups aligned with those of UKCIS.
 
Actions and decisions
 
●	UKCIS Secretariat will invite Working Group Chairs to relevant upcoming White Paper roundtables, at MDCI’s request.
●	UKCIS Secretariat to consider next steps regarding Associate Members.
 
AGENDA ITEM 2 - Operational structure and objectives.
 
●	The Minister for Children and Families discussed with the Executive Board the UKCIS Terms of Reference, setting out the UKCIS role and remit, responsibilities of Executive Board members, objectives and areas of focus.
 
Actions and decisions
 
●	The Executive Board agreed the UKCIS Terms of Reference, subject to:
○	resolving the responsibilities of Associate Members;
○	broadening the areas of focus to include ‘users’ as well as parents and professionals.

AGENDA ITEM 3 - Specific areas of delivery
 
●	Orla MacRae set out a twin-track process to define deliverables for UKCIS. 
●	Existing Working Groups have been asked to refresh their workplans and set new objectives, while maintaining momentum with projects currently in train. 
●	The UKCIS Secretariat will organise a workshop in February 2019 at which Executive Board members can submit new ideas for UKCIS work.
●	A number of Board members expressed interest in taking part in the current Working Groups. For example, TechUK highlighted its current work on Safety by Design, highlighting this as a particular opportunity for UKCIS.
●	It was pointed out that the role of ongoing working groups may be redefined as new ones are set up.
 
Actions and decisions
 
●	The Executive Board agreed with the proposed approach to evolve existing working groups and to set up a workshop to explore new areas of focus.
●	Executive Board members to contact UKCIS Secretariat if they have an interest in becoming more involved in current Working Groups.

AGENDA ITEM 4 - AOB
●	The next full UKCIS Executive Board meeting will be held in March.Working Groups will be meeting between now and then.
●	UKCIS Secretariat to lead a more thorough review of the Associate Member model.

WORKING GROUP WORKSHOP
 
The UKCIS Executive Board meeting was followed by a break-out session to discuss the role and responsibilities of the Working Groups inherited from UKCCIS. 
●	Key considerations are that groups should be small enough to deliver, but large enough to make a difference. They should focus on doing a few things wellWe recognize that UKCIS isn’t the only answer to solving online harms, there are other levers we can use – but it does have an important convening role.
●	Working Group leads each set out their plans and objectives, discussing the items outlined in the slides. Areas of challenge and discussion included:
○	Expanding the remit of the Education Working Group to include adults. Council members discussed the potential need for an overview of the educational products that are aimed at adults. It was argued however that the expansion of the Education Working Group was not necessarily the best way to achieve this, as much of its success is enabled by the focus and expertise of its members around the under-16 audience, which enables group focus and delivery. DfE recommended that issues of adult education were best dealt with separately.
○	How we publicise products and get the message out, eg delivery of the product, across working groups.
○	The need to define the UKCIS “brand” - for example, are we seeking to engage or provide an assurance brand for the general public - or are w limiting our engagement to specialist audiences such as safety professionals? 
○	Members discussed potential new areas for focus, for example around safety by design challenges – and the challenge of engage smaller companies to use the tech that already exists (Eg tech solutions produced by Microsoft and Google). It was also suggested there should be a focus on apps that are putting women at risk.