Online Safety
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The Online Safety Act 2023 (OSA) has introduced sweeping rules for online service providers of all sizes. Digital businesses must now ensure their platforms are safe from a wide variety of harmful content. Consequences of non-compliance are severe, including global fines on turnover and criminal liability.
Ofcom estimates that over 100,000 online businesses are in scope for the OSA. The legal duties are intense, so seek legal support.
We target those likely to be caught by the OSA’s duties which can be online service providers of all sizes and categories.
What types of businesses and platforms are caught by the OSA?
The types of businesses caught can be: -
Online forums and discussion boards.
Social media platforms.
Video and mobile games.
Online marketplaces.
Online aggregator sites.
Smartphone apps with user-to-user functionalities (e.g. social sports and dating apps).
What can we support on?
We can provide legal support on the following matters: -
Preparing or updating Illegal Content Risk Assessments (ICRAs), Children Access Assessments (CAAs), and Children Risk Assessments (CRAs) all in line with relevant Ofcom guidance.
Updating ICRAs and CRAs whenever key changes to your online service occurs or when Ofcom introduce new risk profiles.
Legal support on the adoption of organisational methods and systems to assess whether user generated content is harmful by OSA and Ofcom standards.
Interpreting the OSA and Ofcom guidance generally, as well as for novel, unique, or emerging situations, to determine the extent of your legal duties.
Legal support on implementing Ofcom-recommended or in-house measures, policies, and procedures for OSA compliance.
Drafting internal and external policies in relation to online safety compliance and measures.
Relevant sectors
Relevant guides
