The UK government has reacted to a petition calling for an immediate revision to the legislation that was adopted last week to shield kids and teens from dangerous internet content. In response to a petition that has amassed over 350,000 signatures, the UK government stated today that they have “no plans” to repeal the Online Safety Act.
On Friday, July 25, the Online Safety Act was amended to include further safeguards against children accessing hazardous content, including pornography and suicide-inspiring materials.
Regulator Ofcom is enforcing the measures, which mandate that internet platforms that offer dangerous content that depicts eating disorders, self-harm, suicide, or pornography have age checks in place. These checks can be performed using credit card checks or face age assessment.
Additionally, these websites will have to make sure algorithms don’t push harmful content to kids online, for instance. Since these rules went into effect last week, more than 350,000 people have signed a petition to repeal the Online Safety Act, and the number is still rising.
The petition urged the government to create “proportionate legislation” and said that the Online Safety Act was “far broader and restrictive than is necessary in a free society.”
But according to a statement released today, the administration is still working to “implement the Act as quickly and effectively as possible ” and has “no plans” to remove the new regulations.
Responding to the petition, the government wrote: “The Government is working with Ofcom to ensure that online in-scope services are subject to robust but proportionate regulation through the effective implementation of the Online Safety Act 2023.”
They added: “The Government has no plans to repeal the Online Safety Act, and is working closely with Ofcom to implement the Act as quickly and effectively as possible to enable UK users to benefit from its protections.
“Proportionality is a core principle of the Act and is in-built into its duties. As the regulator for the online safety regime, Ofcom must consider the size and risk level of different types and kinds of services when recommending steps providers can take to comply with requirements.
“Duties in the Communications Act 2003 require Ofcom to act with proportionality and target action only where it is needed.”
Following the Online Safety Act’s implementation, Reform UK declared that, should they win power, they would seek to repeal the law, describing it as a “dystopian” violation of free speech.
However, Sir Keir Starmer has denied allegations that the Act restricts free expression and instead described it as being about “child protection” while speaking with Donald Trump during the US President’s trip to Scotland.
With more than 350,000 signatures so far, the petition to repeal the Online Safety Act is anticipated to be discussed in Parliament.
