Overview

• The Online Safety Act, passed in 2023, officially comes into force with new duties for tech platforms to tackle illegal content such as terrorism, child sexual abuse, and fraud.
• Ofcom has issued initial codes of practice, giving platforms until March 2025 to assess risks and implement safety measures, including improved moderation and reporting tools.
• Failure to comply could result in fines of up to 10% of global revenue, service suspensions, or even jail time for senior executives in extreme cases.
• Critics, including child safety advocates, argue the measures do not go far enough to address issues like self-harm and abuse in private messaging.
• Future Ofcom guidelines in 2025 will address additional concerns, including protections for women and children and the use of AI to combat harmful content.