Creating A Safe Life Online

OfCom's Countdown to the UK’s Online Safety Act

Creating a Safer Life Online

Ofcom’s Progress on Implementing the UK’s Online Safety Act

Ofcom has provided a comprehensive update on the implementation of the Online Safety Act, outlining the progress made and the steps ahead to ensure a safer online environment for UK users. This update details the actions required from tech firms, the timelines for compliance, and the measures Ofcom will take to enforce the new regulations.

Overview of the Online Safety Act

The Online Safety Act, enacted in October 2023, imposes new legal duties on online platforms operating in the UK. These duties aim to protect users, especially children, from illegal and harmful content. Ofcom is responsible for consulting on codes of practice and guidance to facilitate the enforcement of these duties.

Key Milestones and Timelines

December 2024

Publication of Illegal Harms Codes and Guidance

Platforms will have three months to complete illegal harms risk assessments.

January 2025

Finalisation of Children’s Access Assessment Guidance

Guidance for pornography providers on age assurance. Platforms will have three months to assess whether their services are likely to be accessed by children.

February 2025

Consultation on Best Practices for Protecting Women and Girls Online

Ofcom will consult on best practice guidance to enhance protections.

March 2025

Completion of Illegal Harms Risk Assessments

Platforms must complete their risk assessments and implement appropriate safety measures.

April 2025

Completion of Children’s Access Assessments and Safety Codes

Platforms will have three months to complete children’s risk assessments and finalise safety codes and guidance.

Spring 2025

Consultation on Additional Measures for Second Edition Codes and Guidance

Ofcom will seek feedback on further measures to enhance online safety.

July 2025

Finalisation of Children’s Risk Assessments

Platforms must complete children’s risk assessments and ensure the implementation of appropriate safety measures.

Current Progress and Actions Taken

  • Age Verification: UK-based adult sites like OnlyFans have introduced age verification measures to prevent underage access.
  • Content Moderation: Platforms such as BitChute have enhanced their content moderation and user reporting systems.
  • Child Protection: Twitch has implemented measures to prevent children from accessing harmful videos.
  • Grooming Prevention: Meta and Snapchat have introduced features to protect children from being contacted by strangers, including Instagram’s ‘Teen Accounts’ which limit who can interact with teens and what content they can view.

Upcoming Challenges and Expectations

While positive changes have been made, Ofcom anticipates that many platforms will need to implement further measures to comply fully with the Online Safety Act. The finalisation of codes and guidance by April 2025 will set the stage for comprehensive enforcement and compliance.

Enforcement and Compliance

  • Imposing significant fines on non-compliant platforms.
  • Seeking court orders to block access to services in the UK.
  • Limiting access to payment providers or advertisers for platforms that fail to adhere to safety measures.

Dame Melanie Dawes, Ofcom’s Chief Executive, said:
“The time for talk is over. From December, tech firms will be legally required to start taking action, meaning 2025 will be a pivotal year in creating a safer life online. We’ve already engaged constructively with some platforms and seen positive changes ahead of time, but our expectations are going to be high, and we’ll be coming down hard on those who fall short.”

FAQ’s

The Online Safety Act is legislation passed in October 2023 that imposes new legal duties on online platforms operating in the UK. Its primary goal is to protect users, especially children, from illegal and harmful content by enforcing stricter content moderation and safety measures.

Under the Online Safety Act, tech firms must:

  • Implement age verification measures to prevent underage access to harmful content.
  • Enhance content moderation and user reporting systems.
  • Conduct illegal harms risk assessments and implement appropriate safety measures.
  • Provide users with tools to control the content they see.
  • Ensure transparency by producing regular reports.

The major milestones include:

  • December 2024: Publication of illegal harms codes and guidance.
  • January 2025: Finalisation of children’s access assessment guidance.
  • February 2025: Consultation on best practices for protecting women and girls online.
  • March 2025: Completion of illegal harms risk assessments by platforms.
  • April 2025: Completion of children’s access assessments and safety codes.
  • July 2025: Finalisation of children’s risk assessments by platforms.

Ofcom has the authority to:

  • Impose significant fines on non-compliant platforms.
  • Seek court orders to block access to services in the UK.
  • Limit access to payment providers or advertisers for non-compliant platforms.

These measures ensure that tech firms adhere to the safety standards set forth by the Act.

Ofcom has:

  • Consulted on codes and guidance for illegal harms, pornography age verification, and children’s safety.
  • Engaged with major and smaller tech firms to discuss current practices and future requirements.
  • Secured better protections from platforms like OnlyFans, BitChute, Twitch, Meta, and Snapchat.

These actions have laid the groundwork for comprehensive enforcement of the Online Safety Act.

Platforms that fail to comply may face:

  • Significant fines.
  • Blocking of access to their services in the UK.
  • Restrictions on access to payment providers or advertisers.

These consequences are designed to ensure that platforms prioritise user safety and adhere to the regulations.

Users can:

  • Report harmful or illegal content directly through the platform’s reporting tools.
  • Contact Ofcom for guidance and support.
  • Refer to the Ofcom website for comprehensive information and resources.

Ofcom is committed to assisting users in navigating the new safety measures and ensuring their online experiences are secure.

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