Online platforms in the UK face a March 2025 deadline to implement measures against illegal content or risk hefty fines.

The Online Safety Act (OSA), a landmark piece of legislation aimed at making the internet safer, is set to take effect. Under the Act, platforms must conduct risk assessments to identify potential harms and take steps to mitigate them.

Ofcom, the UK's communications regulator, has issued a stern warning to tech giants, emphasizing that this is their "last chance" to reform their practices. Failure to comply could result in fines of up to 10% of their global turnover.

Key areas of concern under the OSA include:

• Child sexual abuse material (CSAM)
• Controlling or coercive behavior
• Extreme sexual violence
• Promotion or facilitation of suicide and self-harm

While the OSA is a significant step forward, critics argue that it falls short in addressing a broader range of online harms. Organizations like the Molly Rose Foundation and the NSPCC have expressed disappointment with the lack of specific measures to combat suicide and self-harm content.

To comply with the new regulations, platforms will need to:

• Identify and assess risks: Determine where illegal content may appear on their services.
• Implement robust content moderation: Develop effective systems to detect and remove harmful material.
• Protect children: Implement safety features like age verification and parental controls.

Tech companies are already taking steps to enhance user safety, including:

• Restricting access to harmful content
• Implementing age verification measures
• Providing parental controls
• Utilizing AI-powered tools to detect and remove harmful content

The OSA represents a major shift in the regulation of online platforms. As the deadline approaches, tech companies must prioritize user safety and work diligently to comply with the new rules. Failure to do so could have serious consequences.