Log in or register
Share on LinkedInShare on LinkedIn

ARTICLE · 10 NOVEMBER 2026

Recent Developments Put Online Service Providers In The Firing Line

Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer LLP
Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer LLP
Contributor
Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer LLP

Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer LLP

We have one of the largest Southeast Asia international law practices, working across the region...

View firm profile
Explore more from Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer LLP

The UK's Online Safety Act regime has undergone dramatic transformation in 2026, with the government introducing sweeping new measures including social media bans for under-16s, mandatory blocking of nude images on devices, and 48-hour takedown requirements for intimate content. As regulators push for increasingly aggressive interventions, questions emerge about technical feasibility, proportionality...

United KingdomMedia, Telecoms, IT, Entertainment
Nusrat Zar
Nusrat Zar
James Wood
James Wood
Andrew Lidbetter
Andrew Lidbetter
Jasveer Randhawa
Jasveer Randhawa
Author LinkedIn connections

2026 has seen a seismic shift in the debate around online safety in the UK, leading to a position few could have predicted when the UK Online Safety Act (OSA) 2023 was first conceived. The passage and introduction of the OSA was accompanied by considerable discussion of and emphasis on proportionality and protecting privacy and freedom of speech. With the current focus squarely being on protection of children online, these wider considerations seem to have become less prominent in both public debate and UK Government/regulatory statements. 

The Government appears keen to reflect what it sees as the change in public mood around social media with its own tough words and tough action. No-one can doubt the importance of protecting children in the online world. But the seemingly constant and often rushed moving of the goalposts brings its own consequences. 

We operate a free-to-view policy, asking only that you register in order to read all of our content. Please login or register to view the rest of this article.

Register for freeORLog in

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.

View source

Related Articles

Legal Intelligence Newsletters: sign up for the latest legal and regulatory news on your chosen topics

Read more about

Related Comparative Guides

See more popular content from

Article

Evolution Delivered: What Regulation (EU) 2026/2202 Means For EU261 Reform

The European Union has enacted its most comprehensive overhaul of passenger rights legislation in over twenty years, introducing significant operational changes for airlines while maintaining the core architecture of the existing compensation framework. With implementation required by October 2027, carriers face expanded obligations around automatic reimbursements, rerouting rights, and assistance provisions, alongside new clarity on extraordinary circumstances and claims procedures.
European UnionMedia, Telecoms, IT, Entertainment
Burges Salmon LLP
Burges Salmon LLP
Article

The EU Kids Act: Not Just A Social Media Ban, And Not Just An EU Problem

The European Commission has proposed the EU KIDS Act, a comprehensive regulation that extends far beyond a simple social media ban for under-13s. This ambitious framework introduces tiered age-based restrictions, safety-by-design obligations across digital services including AI chatbots and online games, and mandatory certified age-verification systems. With potential fines reaching 6% of global turnover and enforcement mechanisms piggybacking on existing DSA machinery, organisations offering digital servic
European UnionMedia, Telecoms, IT, Entertainment
Burges Salmon LLP
Burges Salmon LLP
Article

Manchester City Decision: A Landmark Moment For Sports Regulation

The independent Commission's findings against Manchester City FC for serious breaches of Premier League financial rules have sparked crucial debates about transparency, disciplinary processes, and the future of sports regulation. This landmark decision raises fundamental questions about how sporting bodies balance fairness, consistency, and regulatory discretion when enforcing financial compliance rules. The case's implications extend far beyond football, offering insights into regulatory frameworks, sancti
United KingdomMedia, Telecoms, IT, Entertainment
Olliers Solicitors
Olliers Solicitors
Article

EU Kids Act: What Do The Planned Age Restrictions And Safety Requirements For Minors Online Mean For Providers?

The European Commission has proposed the EU KIDS Act, introducing comprehensive restrictions on minors' access to social media and video-sharing platforms while imposing extensive online safety requirements across digital services. This landmark legislation will require businesses to implement safety-by-design frameworks, age verification systems, and guardian controls, with particularly stringent compliance obligations for Very Large Online Platforms that must prove their services are safe through independ
European UnionMedia, Telecoms, IT, Entertainment
Winston Taylor
Winston Taylor
Article

HFSS: ASA Rulings Provide Clarity On Where “brand Advertising” Ends And Product Advertising Begins

The UK's Advertising Standards Authority has issued new guidance on how it will enforce restrictions on advertising less healthy food and drink products online and on television. Through several July 2026 rulings involving major brands like M&M's, Domino's, and KFC, the ASA clarified when the 'brand advertising exemption' applies and when product imagery crosses the line into depicting specific restricted products.
United KingdomMedia, Telecoms, IT, Entertainment
RPC
RPC
Article

Trump Administration Waives New Russia Sanctions And Tariffs Under Graham Act

President Trump issued an executive order implementing the Graham Act, which establishes substantial new tariffs on Russian goods and countries purchasing Russian energy, but simultaneously waives their application. The order creates a monitoring framework that leaves open the possibility of future enforcement while maintaining existing Russia sanctions regimes.
GlobalInternational Law
Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer LLP
Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer LLP
Article

OFAC Expands Cuba Sanctions And Tightens Financial And Travel Restrictions

The U.S. Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control has implemented sweeping changes to Cuba sanctions, establishing a new regulatory framework that targets foreign persons and financial institutions while significantly restricting previously authorized activities. These measures create potential sanctions exposure for non-U.S. businesses and banks conducting Cuba-related transactions, fundamentally altering the compliance landscape for international financial intermediaries.
GlobalGovernment, Public Sector
Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer LLP
Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer LLP