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ARTICLE · 11 MARCH 2025

Navigating The Online Safety Act

Travers Smith LLP
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For businesses within the scope of the Online Safety Act, achieving compliance and swiftly adapting to extensive new guidance is a significant challenge.

United KingdomMedia, Telecoms, IT, Entertainment
Louisa Chambers
Louisa Chambers
James Longster
James Longster
Helen Reddish
Helen Reddish
Author LinkedIn connections

For businesses within the scope of the Online Safety Act, achieving compliance and swiftly adapting to extensive new guidance is a significant challenge. The contrasting approaches in Europe to online safety and the tensions with the US over content moderation further complicate the landscape. This briefing explores the OSA's scope, its phased rollout, key duties for providers, enforcement measures and the broader geopolitical backdrop.

The OSA aims to create a safer online environment by mitigating the risks of illegal content and content which is harmful to children, while balancing freedom of expression concerns. The OSA does not give Ofcom the power to require the removal of specific, harmful content. Instead, it imposes duties on services to put in place effective processes and systems to guard against that content.

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The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.

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