Overview

• X argues that aggressive enforcement of the Online Safety Act has shifted focus from child protection to broad censorship of adult content.
• Ofcom has launched its first probes into dozens of adult websites for failing to meet mandatory age-verification requirements since July 25.
• A public petition calling for repeal of the Act has exceeded 450,000 signatures as Reform UK and other political figures label the law an assault on free speech.
• The UK government insists the law strikes a balance between safeguarding children and protecting freedom of expression, warning non-compliant platforms face fines up to £18 million or 10% of global turnover.
• Critics warn that a newly introduced voluntary code of conduct and a National Internet Intelligence Investigations unit layer extra scrutiny beyond the Act’s original child-safety mandate.