The UK Online Safety Act 2023 marks one of the most comprehensive attempts by any nation to regulate online content and platform accountability. Enacted on October 26, 2023, and fully enforced starting July 25, 2025, the Act introduces a "duty of care" for online services operating in the UK.
Supported by child advocacy groups like the NSPCC and cautiously endorsed by others such as the Samaritans, the Act aims to make the UK “the safest place in the world to be online.” But with this ambition comes significant controversy particularly around privacy, encryption, and free expression.
The Online Safety Act imposes strict duties on platforms to reduce exposure to illegal and harmful content—especially for children.
The Act applies to:
Risk Assessments:
Regular evaluations of algorithmic and design risks related to illegal or harmful content.
Content Moderation:
Platforms must detect and remove illegal material such as:
Age Verification (Effective July 25, 2025):
Platforms with adult content must use “highly effective” age assurance technologies like:
Transparency and Reporting:
The Office of Communications (Ofcom) is the primary enforcer of the Act. It is empowered to:
Impose Fines:
Up to £18 million or 10% of global annual revenue, whichever is higher
(e.g. Meta could face up to $16 billion)
Restrict Services:
Seek court orders to block non-compliant platforms or cut off business relationships via payment providers
Conduct Investigations:
Request data, audit companies, and hold senior managers criminally liable for failing to cooperate
Issue Codes of Practice:
As of March 2025, Ofcom:
NSPCC & IWF (Internet Watch Foundation):
Praise the Act’s strong stance on child protection and proactive tools like Image Intercept to combat CSAM
Families & Advocates:
The family of Molly Russell, a teen who died after viewing harmful content, sees the law as a long-overdue measure
New Criminal Offenses Introduced:
Privacy Risks:
Free Speech Concerns:
Complexity & Overhead:
Impact on Smaller Services:
The Online Safety Act lays the groundwork for a safer digital space, but much will depend on:
Technology Secretary Peter Kyle has hinted at further updates—potentially including:
Dan Milmo, global technology editor at The Guardian, says the “true test will be whether the online experience becomes safer and more comfortable by mid-2026.”
The UK Online Safety Act 2023 is a major legislative milestone. It reflects growing public demand for accountability from tech platforms—but also exposes deep tensions between digital safety, individual rights, and platform responsibility.
As enforcement begins and further reforms are debated, this law will likely set precedents not only for the UK but for global internet governance.