>>185888, >>185893, >>185894

The UK Online Safety Act 2023 is a sweeping law designed to regulate online platforms, requiring them to proactively protect children and adults from illegal content, terrorism, fraud, and material harmful to minors. Regulated by Ofcom, the legislation imposes strict age assurance checks, risk assessments, and duties on technology companies under threat of heavy fines. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

Core Requirements for Platforms
The Act shifts compliance from a reactive "notice and takedown" model to a proactive duty of care. Obligations vary depending on a platform's size and reach:

• Illegal Content Duties: All service providers must assess and minimize the risk of users encountering illegal materials (e.g., terrorism, child sexual abuse material) and clamp down on fraudulent advertising.
• Protecting Children: Sites likely to be accessed by children must implement highly effective age verification technologies to block access to age-inappropriate and harmful content.
• Adult Safety: Major platforms must offer adult users enhanced transparency and greater control over the types of potentially harmful content they see. [1]

Enforcement and Penalties
The Act is enforced by Ofcom, the UK's communications regulator. Failure to comply with the legislation's duties carries severe consequences, including:

• Financial Penalties: Fines can reach up to £18 million or 10% of a company's global annual revenue, whichever is higher.
• Service Restriction: Courts possess the power to block access to non-compliant services within the UK.
• Executive Liability: Senior management faces potential criminal liability for non-compliance with specific information and reporting requirements. [5, 7]