How will Ofcom enforce the Online Safety Act?

26 October 2023, 16:04

Social media apps on a mobile phone
Government’s new online safety regulatory reforms. Picture: PA

The legislation places new obligations on social media platforms to keep users, and particularly children, safe online.

Ofcom will publish its first codes of practice and guidance for tech firms on complying with the new Online Safety Act next month.

The communications regulator has said it will look to publish its proposals for enforcing the new rules and guidance for firms on how to comply in three phases beginning in November and running in some cases until the spring of 2025, with each code requiring approval from Parliament.

According to Ofcom’s timetable, it hopes to have the first codes of practice, focused on illegal harms, in force by late 2024.

The Online Safety Act become law in the UK on Thursday, placing new obligations on social media platforms to keep users, and particularly children, safe online.

In documents published online, Ofcom said it would publish its first draft codes and guidance on the new duties around illegal harms on November 9.

It said it would consult on these documents and then publish a statement on its final decisions in autumn 2024, with the codes then sent to the Technology Secretary for approval before being laid before Parliament.

This will be followed by guidance on child safety, pornography and the protection of women and girls.

Ofcom said the child protection duties would be set out in two phases – the first around pornography will come in December, with the draft codes around the protection of children due in spring 2024.

The regulator said it then expects draft guidance around the protection of women and girls by spring 2025, when it will have finalised the child protection codes.

The regulator’s third phase of guidance will focus on transparency, user empowerment and other duties – which will deal with the production of platforms’ transparency reports, empowerment tools to report and filter out content, as well as preventing fraudulent advertising and protecting journalistic content.

Ofcom confirmed it plans to publish draft guidance on transparency by mid-2024.

The regulator will also advise the Government on thresholds for categorising each platform in scope of the new laws, with those in Category 1 – likely to be the largest platforms – required to do the most to protect users.

Ofcom said it hopes to have this register confirmed through secondary legislation by summer 2024.

By Press Association

More Technology News

See more More Technology News

People ride an upward escalator next to the Dior store at the Icon Siam shopping mall on June 12, 2024 in Bangkok, Thailand.

Luxury fashion giant Dior latest high-profile retailer to be hit by cyber attack as customer data accessed

A plane spotter with binoculars from behind watching a British Airways plane landing

‘Flying taxis’ could appear in UK skies as early as 2028, minister says

Apple App Store

Take on Apple and Google to boost UK economy, think tank says

A survey of more than 1,000 employers found that around one in eight thought AI would give them a competitive edge and would lead to fewer staff.

One in three employers believe AI will boost productivity, research finds

Hands on a laptop showing an AI search

One in three employers believe AI will boost productivity, research finds

Music creators and politicians take part in a protest calling on the Government to ditch plans to allow AI tech firms to steal their work without payment or permission opposite the Houses of Parliament in London.

Creatives face a 'kind-of apocalyptic moment’ over AI concerns, minister says

Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary on Lake Victoria, Uganda

Chimps use medicinal plants to treat each other's wounds and practice 'self-care' as scientists hail fascinating discovery

Close up of a person's hands on the laptop keyboard

Ofcom investigating pornography site over alleged Online Safety Act breaches

The Monzo app on a smartphone

Monzo customers can cancel bank transfers if they quickly spot an error

Co-op sign

Co-op to re-stock empty shelves as it recovers from major hack

The study said that it was often too easy for adult strangers to pick out girls online and send them unsolicited messages.

Social media platforms are failing to protect women and girls from harm, new research reveals

Peter Kyle leaves 10 Downing Street, London

Government-built AI tool used to cut admin work for human staff

In its last reported annual headcount in June 2024, Microsoft employed 228,000 full-time workers

Microsoft axes 6,000 jobs despite strong profits in recent quarters

Airbnb logo

Airbnb unveils revamp as it expands ‘beyond stays’ to challenge hotel sector

A car key on top of a Certificate of Motor Insurance and Policy Schedule

Drivers losing thousands to ghost broker scams – the red flags to watch out for

Marks and Spencer cyber attack

M&S customers urged to ‘stay vigilant’ for fraud after data breach confirmed