The UK Online Safety Act explained
12th August 2025
From July 25th 2025, new online safety regulations were introduced to protect children from harmful content: what does this include?
The internet can sometimes be a scary place. While it can be an incredible tool for collecting knowledge, communicating across the world and finding entertainment, it also has a dark side: some of the most horrific things I’ve ever seen have been online (and I’d imagine the same can be said for many of you).
To try and protect people from stumbling across this sort of content, including pornography, violence, gore, suicide, self-harm, hate speech, dangerous actions or content relating to terrorism, the UK government introduced a series of measures to make it more difficult to access. Here is what they are, so you’re aware of what has changed:
Mandatory Age Verification: platforms hosting adult content are now required to ask for a form of ID before granting user access. Through a facial scan, document upload or some other kind of verification, only adult users will be permitted to continue to the site’s content.
Stricter Content Controls: platforms must actively block harmful content from reaching children. This involves changing algorithms so that young people can’t be exposed to mature content while using social media or similar sites. Platforms are encouraged to design services with child safety in mind.
Enhanced Platform Responsibilities: platforms must be more proactive in protecting users. There need to be reporting tools for users (and their parents), with a named safety officer in the organisation who is responsible for child protection. They must undergo risk assessments and audits and any explicit content that is found in the wrong place must be removed.
Transparency and User Control: platforms must be open about how content is moderated, with reports that are publicly accessible. Users should be told how algorithms may be impacting what they see and should have filter options to remove certain content, if they wish.
Criminal Offences and Enforcement: there are updates to online crimes, including abuse and exploitation. Cyberflashing, deepfake pornography and epilepsy trolling will now face more serious consequences and sites seen to be breaking regulations can be fined up to £18 million (or 10% of global revenue). Some executives may even face criminal charges for non-compliance.
Global Impact: the act applies to any platform used in the UK, even if it is created and based overseas. The aim is that if a platform has the UK as a target market, or a big UK user base, then it needs to be protected under UK legislation.
How will the UK Online Safety Act effect you? If you have any questions about these new rules, please contact Interfuture Systems, we’d be happy to clarify anything you’re unsure of.
YouTube: https://youtu.be/ynhi7_QR1M4