Complying with the UK Online Safety Act: What Every Website Owner Needs to Know
The Online Safety Act is a groundbreaking UK law designed to make the internet safer for both children and adults. Effective from December 16, 2024, this legislation mandates that platforms implement robust systems to prevent underage access, eliminate illegal content, and ensure user safety across the digital ecosystem.
Why the Online Safety Act Matters
The law imposes strict duties on social media platforms, search engines, and user-generated content websites to identify risks, restrict harmful content, and provide age-appropriate experiences. For website owners in industries like adult entertainment, vaping, gambling, CBD, and online dating and escort services, this means mandatory age verification is now a legal requirement.
Who Enforces It?
Ofcom, the UK’s communications regulator, is tasked with enforcing the Act. It has issued detailed codes of practice outlining how businesses must comply. Ofcom’s powers include fines of up to £18 million or 10% of global revenue, criminal action against non-compliant executives, and the ability to block UK access to offending platforms.
Key Compliance Milestones
- Illegal Content: Platforms must detect and remove content related to child sexual abuse, terrorism, fraud, people smuggling, illegal drugs, and more.
- Children’s Safety: Age-inappropriate content such as pornography, self-harm material, and graphic violence must be restricted using highly effective age assurance methods.
- Risk Assessments: Platforms must assess if their content is accessible to children and conduct detailed risk assessments.
What Is Considered “Highly Effective” Age Assurance?
Ofcom outlines four criteria: technically accurate, robust, reliable, and fair. Accepted methods include:
- Überprüfung der Kreditkarte
- Photo ID Matching
- Facial Age Estimation
- Mobile Network Age Checks
- Email-Based Age Estimation (recognised by Ofcom as effective)
- Open Banking and Digital Identity Checks
Note: Self-declaration and non-age-restricted payment methods do not meet the standard.
Platforms in Scope
- Social media and messaging apps
- Video-sharing platforms
- Cloud storage and file-sharing services
- Online forums and games
- Pornographic websites and adult directories
- Overseas websites with UK traffic or targeting UK users
Timeline of Enforcement
- March 2025: Illegal content enforcement began; risk assessments due
- April 2025: Children’s access assessments due
- Summer 2025: Full child safety regime goes live
Sanktionen bei Nichteinhaltung der Vorschriften
- Fines up to £18 million or 10% of global turnover
- Executive liability for criminal charges
- Access restrictions and payment processing blocks
Wie 18Verified Ihnen hilft, die Vorschriften einzuhalten
At 18Verified, we offer highly effective, privacy-focused age verification solutions designed to meet and exceed the standards outlined in the Online Safety Act.
Our services include:
- AI photo ID age checks
- Überprüfung der Kreditkarte
- Facial recognition – coming soon
We help protect your users and your business while keeping the process fast, frictionless, and fully compliant.
Abschließende Überlegungen
The Online Safety Act is reshaping the digital landscape. As a website owner, failing to comply is no longer an option. With 18Verified, you get a trusted partner in compliance, offering cost-effective and user-friendly age verification backed by technology that meets Ofcom’s highest standards.
Get in touch with 18Verified today to ensure your business is ready for enforcement.