PART 11Supplementary and general

Other powers to amend Act

I1I2218Power to amend section 40

1

The Secretary of State may by regulations amend section 40 (fraud etc offences).

But the power to add an offence to that section is limited by subsections (2) and (3).

2

An offence may be added to section 40 only if the Secretary of State considers it appropriate to do so because of—

a

the prevalence on Category 1 services of content (other than regulated user-generated content) consisting of paid-for advertisements that amount to that offence, or the prevalence in or via search results of Category 2A services of paid-for advertisements that amount to that offence,

b

the risk of harm to individuals in the United Kingdom presented by such advertisements, and

c

the severity of that harm.

3

An offence may not be added to section 40 if—

a

the offence concerns—

i

the infringement of intellectual property rights,

ii

the safety or quality of goods (as opposed to what kind of goods they are), or

iii

the performance of a service by a person not qualified to perform it; or

b

it is an offence under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 (S.I. 2008/1277).

4

In this section—

a

regulated user-generated content” has the same meaning as in Part 3 (see section 55);

b

the words “in or via search results” are to be construed in accordance with section 39;

c

references to advertisements that amount to an offence are to be construed in accordance with section 59 (see subsections (3), (11) and (12) of that section).