Online Safety Bill Update

The UK Government has made last-minute amendments to its long-awaited Online Safety Bill, designed to improve internet users’ safety online. These amendments specifically focus on the protection of children from accessing pornographic content online.

What’s in the Bill?

The contents and impact of the Bill have been covered in a previous article. One of the main aims of the Bill is safeguarding children on the Internet. It places responsibility on technology companies to take measures towards shielding children from detrimental content and harmful activities; specifically materials related to child sexual abuse. Additionally, the companies are required to ensure that the content they provide is suitable for different age groups, including legal materials that touch upon topics like self-harm.

What’s New?

The recent amendments attempt to crack down on children accessing pornographic content online. Internet companies carrying pornographic content will now be required to use age verification or estimation measures to ensure no individuals under the age of 18 can access such content.

Consequences for Businesses

The amendments will have a huge impact on the tech companies providing this sort of content. The new measures will seek to hold top executives personally liable for failing to keep children safe on their platforms, with the ultimate threat of jail time for non-compliance.

Furthermore, the Bill gives Ofcom, the UK’s communication regulator, the power to fine companies up to £18m or 10% of their worldwide turnover. Law firms will play an important role in assisting tech companies in complying with this new framework.

Privacy Concerns

There are some privacy concerns pertaining to the new amendments. Digital rights groups, including Open Rights Group, have expressed concerns about the amount of data that these companies would need to collect to ensure compliance. This includes children’s biometric data. Currently, it remains unclear whether this data would be stored, who would have access to it and whether it would be processed by Internet companies.

Conclusion

The Government’s flagship Bill aimed at increasing users’ safety online has received new additions regarding access to pornographic content. These amendments create a stricter framework that tech companies will have to abide by to avoid fines of criminal liability, and provide further work for law firms tasked with ensuring compliance.

By Scott Hickman