Overview

• The Online Safety Act, effective today, mandates tech companies to prevent and remove illegal content such as child sexual abuse, terrorism, and fraud across their platforms.
• Ofcom, the UK regulator, will enforce compliance with the law, with companies facing fines up to £18 million or 10% of global revenue for violations.
• Critics argue Ofcom's measures are insufficient, citing gaps in protections for children and delays in addressing emerging threats like AI-generated abuse content.
• Safety campaigners and victims' advocates call for stronger enforcement and immediate government action to close loopholes in the legislation.
• The act has faced international criticism, including from US officials, over concerns about its potential impact on free speech and trade relations.