Online Safety Act Gets Royal Assent – A New Age of Internet Protection
Big news today as the Online Safety Act officially gains Royal Assent, ushering in a fresh wave of tough laws to clean up the internet. This historic move places heavy legal duties on social media giants, targeting illegal content and putting children’s safety front and centre.
Tech Titans Face Heavy Fines and Jail for Online Harm
The Act demands social media firms act fast to take down illegal content—from terrorism to revenge porn—or face eye-watering fines into the billions. Even scarier for execs: bosses could be locked up if they fail to protect children as the law requires.
Technology Secretary Michelle Donelan declared, “Today will go down as a historic moment that ensures the online safety of British society not only now but for decades to come.” The focus is clear – cracking down on bullying, self-harm promotion, eating disorders, and harmful explicit content targeting kids.
Cutting-Edge Child Protection and Adult Safeguards
Home Secretary Suella Braverman warned criminals: “There will be no hiding place for their vile crimes.” The Act beefs up defences against child sexual abuse and makes sharing intimate images without consent a crime punishable by up to six months in prison. More serious threats or acts causing distress bring harsher penalties.
Lord Chancellor Alex Chalk highlighted efforts to shield women and girls from online abuse, including trolls spurring serious self-harm, cyberflashing, and non-consensual image sharing.
Adults aren’t left out either: the law offers three layers of protection that include removing illegal content, holding platforms to their promises, and enabling users to filter unwanted material.
Experts Back New Laws as Game-Changer for Online Safety
NSPCC Chief Sir Peter Wanless called it a “watershed moment” for child protection, praising the legal power to force tech firms to act or face massive penalties.
Ofcom boss Dame Melanie Dawes vowed to tackle online harm at its source, backing new rules focused on safety by design while respecting privacy and free speech.
Social media firms are already gearing up: TikTok has ramped up age checks, Snapchat is scrubbing underage accounts, and Ofcom plans robust enforcement targeting the worst illegal content.
The government and Ofcom aim to roll out most Act provisions within two months, with a public consultation kicking off November 9, signalling the dawn of a safer digital era.
