What is the Online Safety Act?
The Online Safety Act became law in October 2023. Its goal is to make the internet safer for everyone, particularly children, by placing more responsibility on social media platforms and tech companies to protect their users.
Who does the act affect?
Online services, such as:
- 'User-to-user services' (e.g. social media sites such as Facebook and Instagram) – services that host user-generated content, like images, videos and comments, and allow users to interact
- Search engines (e.g. Google and Bing)
- Services that host pornographic content
- Messaging platforms (e.g. WhatsApp)
- Video-sharing platforms (with links to the UK)
This is covered in Ofcom's guide to the Online Safety Act.
There are no new requirements for schools
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