Online Safety Act Becomes Law

The UK Online Safety Act (the 'Act'), heralded as a progressive step toward internet regulation, has become law amid significant concerns. The Act received Royal Assent on 26 October 2023, just after the EU Digital Services Act. The EU also has further legislation with regard to child sexual abuse material ('CSAM') in the pipeline.

The Act's final version has sparked concern with regard to the potential impact on user privacy and online security. The Act covers a wide range of illegal content that platforms are mandated to address. It imposes a duty of care on platforms, especially concerning the content accessed by users, particularly children. Additionally, a divisive requirement has been included, necessitating messaging platforms to scan users' messages for illegal material. This provision has sparked concerns from tech companies and privacy advocates, who view it as an unwarranted assault on encryption practices. On top of understanding the Act itself,