October 27, 2023 at 06:08AM
The United Kingdom’s Online Safety Act, which aims to make the UK the safest place to be online, has been passed into law. The act requires tech companies to prevent illegal content distribution and protect children from harmful material. Non-compliant companies face fines and even imprisonment for executives. There are concerns about the act’s potential impact on encryption and private communication. Implementation of the act will occur in phases, with the full rules taking effect by the end of 2026.
Key takeaways from the meeting notes on the United Kingdom’s Online Safety Act:
1. The Online Safety Act has become law in the UK with the aim of making the country the safest place to be online.
2. Tech companies are required to prevent illegal content distribution on their platforms and remove it when identified.
3. The law also focuses on preventing children from being exposed to harmful material and requires effective online age verification.
4. Fines of up to £18 million or 10% of global turnover can be imposed on non-compliant companies, and executives may face imprisonment.
5. Concerns exist regarding section 122 of the act, which could potentially disallow encryption.
6. Ofcom will begin consultation on illegal harms and codes of practice, with parliamentary approval expected in about a year.
7. Consultation for child safety, pornography, and protecting women and girls will begin in December, with final guidance due in early 2025.
8. A third consultation on duties of covered services, transparency reports, and fraudulent advertising will start in Q2 2024, and the rules will come into effect in 2026.
9. The compliance obligations of the Online Safety Act may lead to companies increasing content moderation staff.