The Implications of the Online Safety Bill for Businesses and Law Firms

An Overview of the Online Safety Bill

The Online Safety Bill aims to increase the safety of internet users. The Bill has successfully gone through the House of Commons. It is currently at the ‘Committee Stage’ in the House of Lords, awaiting Royal Assent.

Contents of the Bill

One of the primary objectives of the Bill is the protection of children on the internet. Technology firms within its scope will be under a duty to protect children from harmful content and activities that cause harm, such as materials on child sexual abuse. The firms must also ensure that their content is age-appropriate. This also applies to legal materials such as information related to self-harm. To address the wider demographic, the Bill introduces new criminal offences for activities including sharing pornographic “deepfakes”.

The Bill has abandoned imposing an obligation on firms to shield adults from legal but harmful material, such as racist or sexist abuse. Instead, Ofcom, the UK’s communications regulator, will be responsible for ensuring that platforms’ terms of service are upheld.

Impact on Businesses

The Bill is set to have a significant impact on companies which handle a lot of user data, such as social media platforms as well as online marketplaces. In some cases, to comply with the new regulatory framework, they will have to rethink how their platforms operate and change their moderation guidelines.

The Bill awards Ofcom the power to fine companies for not respecting these safeguards up to £18m or 10% of their worldwide turnover.

The Role of Law Firms

The Online Safety Bill is set to create new work opportunities for law firms. Solicitors will have to get acclimatised with the new framework to help their clients in the technology sector adapt. Nonetheless, the enactment of the legislation may lead to an increase in disputes as companies try to challenge the stricter rules.

By Scott Hickman