UK Online Safety Act
The Online Safety Act 2023 imposes illegal content duties on UK user-to-user services and search engines, enforced by Ofcom.
What it brought
Risk assessment and mitigation duties for illegal content, complaint and reporting mechanisms, new or updated offences such as sharing intimate images without consent, and wide Ofcom powers.
For brands
Reports of illegal content accessible in the UK carry more weight under these duties; defamation remains under the Defamation Act 2013.
General information, not legal advice. In real cases we work alongside lawyers who specialise in digital rights.
Frequently asked questions
Does it cover defamation?
Its focus is illegal and harmful-to-children content; defamation has its own law.