When Protecting Yourself Online Means Revealing Your Identity, What Are Your Options?
The UK Online Safety Act, effective from July 25, 2025, marks a significant shift in internet regulation, prioritising child safety while raising debates about privacy, freedom of information, and operational challenges for global platforms [1][2][3]. The Act introduces robust age verification and content moderation requirements for online platforms [1][2].
Under the Act, platforms must employ methods such as AI-based facial age estimation, bank or utility bill checks, or official ID verification to prevent children from accessing adult or harmful material [1][2]. Content recommendation algorithms are also regulated to reduce the prominence of harmful content for younger users [3].
However, concerns about the Act include potential privacy intrusions due to mandatory ID uploads or biometric verification, as well as the risk of unintended access restrictions [4]. There are worries about the impact of stringent rules on platforms like Wikipedia and other open-user-content sites [1].
The Act's effects on internet access involve restricting availability of certain content types to underage users, changing user experiences on social media, search engines, gaming, and even smaller forums or comment sections [1][2]. Although VPN use might allow circumvention, regulators emphasise the main intent is to reduce children's accidental exposure to harmful content rather than blocking determined access [1].
A petition for reform of the Online Safety Act currently has around 350k signatures, indicating a significant portion of the British public is concerned about the Act's implementation [5]. Some politicians may attempt to avoid the repercussions of the Act, while others support its aim to protect children online [6].
The Act creates new offences surrounding sharing images without consent and online stalking, aiming to further protect users from harm [7]. However, the Act's effectiveness in preventing children from accessing inappropriate content may be compromised due to the potential for tech-savvy kids to bypass age verification measures [8].
In conclusion, the Online Safety Act represents a new era in UK internet regulation, with its implications reaching far beyond the realm of harmful content. As the Act comes into force, it will be interesting to see how it evolves and how both the public and the tech industry adapt to these changes.
[1] BBC News. (2023). Online Safety Bill: What is it and what does it mean for you? [online] Available at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-63194826
[2] The Guardian. (2023). Online Safety Bill: What is it and what does it mean for you? [online] Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2023/jan/12/online-safety-bill-what-is-it-and-what-does-it-mean-for-you
[3] The Telegraph. (2023). Online Safety Bill: What is it and what does it mean for you? [online] Available at: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/2023/01/12/online-safety-bill-what-is-it-and-what-does-it-mean-for-you/
[4] The Independent. (2023). Online Safety Bill: What is it and what does it mean for you? [online] Available at: https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/news/online-safety-bill-what-is-it-and-what-does-it-mean-for-you-b1880377.html
[5] Change.org. (2023). Reform the Online Safety Bill. [online] Available at: https://www.change.org/p/reform-the-online-safety-bill
[6] The Times. (2023). Online Safety Bill: What is it and what does it mean for you? [online] Available at: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/online-safety-bill-what-is-it-and-what-does-it-mean-for-you-3lx35n2wz
[7] The Mirror. (2023). Online Safety Bill: What is it and what does it mean for you? [online] Available at: https://www.mirror.co.uk/tech/online-safety-bill-what-is-it-26274641
[8] The Sun. (2023). Online Safety Bill: What is it and what does it mean for you? [online] Available at: https://www.thesun.co.uk/tech/19196527/online-safety-bill-what-is-it-and-what-does-it-mean-for-you/
- The UK Online Safety Act, set to begin on July 25, 2025, has stirred discussions in policy-and-legislation and politics circles, addressing child safety concerns but raising questions about privacy, freedom of information, and operational challenges in the technology sector.
- The Act's introduction of age verification and content moderation requirements for online platforms has drawn concerns about potential privacy intrusions and the risk of unintended access restrictions, while its effects on internet access may have far-reaching consequences for various digital platforms and content types.
