United Kingdom’s new online safety regime officially came into force on Monday, marking a significant step in the country’s efforts to protect children and users from harmful content on social media platforms. The Online Safety Act, which was enacted in 2023, introduces a comprehensive set of requirements for companies like Meta’s Facebook and ByteDance’s TikTok, demanding they take stronger action to combat illegal activities and prioritize user safety by design.
With the implementation of this act, the UK aims to tackle a range of serious online harms, from child sexual abuse to the promotion of suicide and self-harm. In a bid to curb these threats, the government has put forward new codes of practice that platforms must follow. These codes were published by Ofcom, the UK’s media regulator, and they focus on ensuring that social media platforms take concrete steps to protect their users, particularly the most vulnerable — children.
As part of the Online Safety Act, platforms now have until March 16, 2025, to assess the risks posed by illegal content to both children and adults on their platforms. To mitigate these risks, companies must implement stronger safety measures, such as improving moderation systems, making reporting tools more accessible, and embedding safety mechanisms directly into the design of their services.
In a statement, Ofcom Chief Executive Melanie Dawes emphasized the importance of compliance with the new rules. “We’ll be watching the industry closely to ensure firms meet the strict safety standards set under our first codes and guidance, with additional requirements to follow in the first half of next year.”she said, reinforcing the regulator’s commitment to holding companies accountable for their actions.
Among the key provisions outlined in the new code is the requirement for high-risk platforms to use advanced tools like hash-matching and URL detection to identify and remove child sexual abuse material. The platforms are also expected to make reporting systems more accessible and user-friendly, ensuring that users who encounter harmful content can easily flag it for review.
For companies that fail to comply with these new regulations, the consequences are severe. Non-compliance can result in fines of up to £18 million (around $22.3 million) or 10% of a company’s global annual revenue, whichever is higher. Technology Secretary Peter Kyle stressed that the government would not tolerate any lack of action from social media firms.“If platforms fail to step up, the regulator has my full backing to use its powers, including issuing fines and blocking site access through the courts.” he remarked, signaling the government’s resolve to enforce the law.
The Online Safety Act marks a significant shift in the landscape of online regulation in the UK, with the new rules requiring tech companies to take proactive steps to prevent harm rather than reacting after incidents have occurred. This move is part of a broader global trend to hold tech companies more accountable for the content shared on their platforms, with the UK leading the charge on child protection and online safety.
By targeting illegal content and the risks posed to children and vulnerable individuals online, the UK government aims to create a safer digital environment. The implementation of this law and the scrutiny it brings could set a global precedent for online safety regulations, influencing other countries to adopt similar measures in the future.
As the clock ticks down to the March 2025 deadline, social media platforms will need to invest in the necessary tools and policies to meet the new safety standards. For the public, the introduction of these safety measures provides some hope that social media companies will finally take meaningful steps to protect users from harm in the increasingly digital world.
This historic move is being closely watched by governments, tech companies, and digital rights groups alike, as the UK’s decision could shape the future of online safety and digital regulation around the globe.
