🧠 The Online Safety Act

The UK’s Online Safety Act aims to make the internet safer for children by requiring platforms to verify age, filter harmful content, and follow strict rules. In theory, this is a protective step — helping shield younger users from exploitation, abuse, and harmful material that parents might not always catch. Supporters argue that tech companies must share the responsibility for child safety, especially as more kids use devices unsupervised.

But these protections come at a cost: increasing surveillance, reduced privacy, and restricted access for everyone — even adults. Entire platforms now require ID checks, and user data is under tighter scrutiny.

✅ Pros

• Child Protection

  The law helps limit exposure to harmful content for minors through mandatory age checks.

  https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/online-safety-act-explainer

• Platform Responsibility

  Places legal responsibility on tech companies to monitor and remove harmful or illegal content.

• Clearer Standards

  Establishes clearer legal expectations around illegal content and how it should be handled. https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/50/contents/enacted

• Public Awareness

  Sparks public and industry-wide conversations around online harm, responsibility, and digital rights.

❌ Cons

• Privacy Concerns

  Age verification systems may collect sensitive personal data, raising surveillance and security worries.

• Impact on Free Speech

  Broad definitions of “harmful” content may lead to over-censorship or suppression of marginalised voices. https://www.article19.org/resources/uk-online-safety-bill-serious-threat-to-human-rights-online/

• Access Issues

  Users without ID, or younger users with parental consent, may still be blocked from accessing services. https://www.nme.com/news/music/youll-now-have-to-verify-your-age-to-access-certain-content-on-spotify-3881717

  
  

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