Online Safety Act 2023
PART 1Introduction
1Introduction
2Overview of Act
PART 2Key definitions
3“User-to-user service” and “search service”
4“Regulated service”, “Part 3 service” etc
5Disapplication of Act to certain parts of services
PART 3Providers of regulated user-to-user services and regulated search services: duties of care
CHAPTER 1Introduction
6Overview of Part 3
CHAPTER 2Providers of user-to-user services: duties of care
User-to-user services: which duties apply, and scope of duties
7Providers of user-to-user services: duties of care
8Scope of duties of care
Illegal content duties for user-to-user services
9Illegal content risk assessment duties
10Safety duties about illegal content
User-to-user services likely to be accessed by children
11Children’s risk assessment duties
12Safety duties protecting children
13Safety duties protecting children: interpretation
Category 1 services
14Assessment duties: user empowerment
15User empowerment duties
16User empowerment duties: interpretation
17Duties to protect content of democratic importance
18Duties to protect news publisher content
19Duties to protect journalistic content
Duties about content reporting and complaints procedures
20Duty about content reporting
21Duties about complaints procedures
Cross-cutting duties
22Duties about freedom of expression and privacy
23Record-keeping and review duties
CHAPTER 3Providers of search services: duties of care
Search services: which duties apply, and scope of duties
24Providers of search services: duties of care
25Scope of duties of care
Illegal content duties for search services
26Illegal content risk assessment duties
27Safety duties about illegal content
Search services likely to be accessed by children
28Children’s risk assessment duties
29Safety duties protecting children
30Safety duties protecting children: interpretation
Duties about content reporting and complaints procedures
31Duty about content reporting
32Duties about complaints procedures
Cross-cutting duties
33Duties about freedom of expression and privacy
34Record-keeping and review duties
CHAPTER 4Children's access assessments
35Children’s access assessments
36Duties about children’s access assessments
37Meaning of “likely to be accessed by children”
CHAPTER 5Duties about fraudulent advertising
38Duties about fraudulent advertising: Category 1 services
39Duties about fraudulent advertising: Category 2A services
40Fraud etc offences
CHAPTER 6Codes of practice and guidance
Codes of practice
41Codes of practice about duties
42Codes of practice: principles, objectives, content
43Procedure for issuing codes of practice
44Secretary of State’s powers of direction
45Procedure for issuing codes of practice following direction under section 44
46Publication of codes of practice
47Review of codes of practice
48Minor amendments of codes of practice
49Relationship between duties and codes of practice
50Effects of codes of practice
51Duties and the first codes of practice
Guidance
52OFCOM’s guidance about certain duties in Part 3
53OFCOM’s guidance: content that is harmful to children and user empowerment
54OFCOM’s guidance about protecting women and girls
CHAPTER 7Interpretation of Part 3
55“Regulated user-generated content”, “user-generated content”, “news publisher content”
56“Recognised news publisher”
57“Search content”, “search results” etc
58Restricting users’ access to content
59“Illegal content” etc
60“Content that is harmful to children”
61“Primary priority content that is harmful to children”
62“Priority content that is harmful to children”
63Content harmful to children: OFCOM’s review and report
PART 4Other duties of providers of regulated user-to-user services and regulated search services
CHAPTER 1User identity verification
64User identity verification
65OFCOM’s guidance about user identity verification
CHAPTER 2Reporting child sexual exploitation and abuse content
66Requirement to report CSEA content to the NCA
67Regulations about reports to the NCA
68NCA: information sharing
69Offence in relation to CSEA reporting
70Interpretation of this Chapter
CHAPTER 3Terms of service: transparency, accountability and freedom of expression
71Duty not to act against users except in accordance with terms of service
72Further duties about terms of service
73OFCOM’s guidance about duties set out in sections 71 and 72
74Interpretation of this Chapter
CHAPTER 4Deceased Child Users
75Disclosure of information about use of service by deceased child users
76OFCOM’s guidance about duties set out in section 75
CHAPTER 5Transparency reporting
77Transparency reports about certain Part 3 services
78OFCOM’s guidance about transparency reports
PART 5Duties of providers of regulated services: certain pornographic content
79“Provider pornographic content” and “regulated provider pornographic content”
80Scope of duties about regulated provider pornographic content
81Duties about regulated provider pornographic content
82OFCOM’s guidance about duties set out in section 81
PART 6Duties of providers of regulated services: fees
83Duty to notify OFCOM
84Duty to pay fees
85Regulations by OFCOM about qualifying worldwide revenue etc
86Threshold figure
87Secretary of State’s guidance about fees
88OFCOM’s fees statements
89Recovery of OFCOM’s initial costs
90Meaning of “charging year” and “initial charging year”
PART 7OFCOM's powers and duties in relation to regulated services
CHAPTER 1General duties
91General duties of OFCOM under section 3 of the Communications Act
92Duties in relation to strategic priorities
93Duty to carry out impact assessments
CHAPTER 2Register of categories of regulated user-to-user services and regulated search services
94Meaning of threshold conditions etc
95Register of categories of certain Part 3 services
96Duty to maintain register
97List of emerging Category 1 services
CHAPTER 3Risk assessments of regulated user-to-user services and regulated search services
98OFCOM’s register of risks, and risk profiles, of Part 3 services
99OFCOM’s guidance about risk assessments
CHAPTER 4Information
Information powers and information notices
100Power to require information
101Information in connection with an investigation into the death of a child
102Information notices
103Requirement to name a senior manager
Skilled persons' reports
104Reports by skilled persons
Investigations and interviews
105Investigations
106Power to require interviews
Powers of entry, inspection and audit
107Powers of entry, inspection and audit
108Amendment of Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001
Information offences and penalties
109Offences in connection with information notices
110Senior managers’ liability: information offences
111Offences in connection with notices under Schedule 12
112Other information offences
113Penalties for information offences
Disclosure of information
114Co-operation and disclosure of information: overseas regulators
115Disclosure of information
116Intelligence service information
117Provision of information to the Secretary of State
118Amendment of Enterprise Act 2002
119Information for users of regulated services
120Admissibility of statements
CHAPTER 5Regulated user-to-user services and regulated search services: notices to deal with terrorism content and CSEA content
121Notices to deal with terrorism content or CSEA content (or both)
122Requirement to obtain skilled person’s report
123Warning notices
124Matters relevant to a decision to give a notice under section 121(1)
125Notices under section 121(1): supplementary
126Review and further notice under section 121(1)
127OFCOM’s guidance about functions under this Chapter
128OFCOM’s annual report
129Interpretation of this Chapter
CHAPTER 6Enforcement powers
Provisional notices and confirmation decisions
130Provisional notice of contravention
131Requirements enforceable by OFCOM against providers of regulated services
132Confirmation decisions
133Confirmation decisions: requirements to take steps
134Confirmation decisions: risk assessments
135Confirmation decisions: children’s access assessments
136Confirmation decisions: proactive technology
137Confirmation decisions: penalties
138Confirmation decisions: offences
Penalty notices etc
139Penalty for failure to comply with confirmation decision
140Penalty for failure to comply with notice under section 121(1)
141Non-payment of fee
142Information to be included in notices under sections 140 and 141
Amount of penalties etc
143Amount of penalties etc
Business disruption measures
144Service restriction orders
145Interim service restriction orders
146Access restriction orders
147Interim access restriction orders
148Interaction with other action by OFCOM
Publication of enforcement action
149Publication by OFCOM of details of enforcement action
150Publication by providers of details of enforcement action
Guidance
151OFCOM’s guidance about enforcement action
CHAPTER 7Committees, research and reports
152Advisory committee on disinformation and misinformation
153Functions of the Content Board
154Research about users’ experiences of regulated services
155Consumer consultation
156OFCOM’s statement about freedom of expression and privacy
157OFCOM’s reports about use of age assurance
158OFCOM’s reports about news publisher content and journalistic content
159OFCOM’s transparency reports
160OFCOM’s report about reporting and complaints procedures
161OFCOM’s report about use of app stores by children
162OFCOM’s report about researchers’ access to information
163OFCOM’s report in connection with investigation into a death
164OFCOM’s reports
CHAPTER 8Media literacy
165Media literacy
166Media literacy strategy and media literacy statement
PART 8Appeals and super-complaints
CHAPTER 1Appeals
167Appeals against OFCOM decisions relating to the register under section 95
168Appeals against OFCOM notices
CHAPTER 2Super-complaints
169Power to make super-complaints
170Procedure for super-complaints
171OFCOM’s guidance about super-complaints
PART 9Secretary of State's functions in relation to regulated services
Strategic priorities
172Statement of strategic priorities
173Consultation and parliamentary procedure
Directions to OFCOM
174Directions about advisory committees
175Directions in special circumstances
Guidance
176Secretary of State’s guidance
Annual report
177Annual report on the Secretary of State’s functions
Review
178Review
PART 10Communications offences
False and threatening communications offences
179False communications offence
180Exemptions from offence under section 179
181Threatening communications offence
182Interpretation of sections 179 to 181
Offences of sending or showing flashing images
183Offences of sending or showing flashing images electronically
Offence of encouraging or assisting serious self-harm
184Offence of encouraging or assisting serious self-harm
Further provision
185Extra-territorial application and jurisdiction
186Liability of corporate officers
Offences to be inserted into Sexual Offences Act 2003
187Sending etc photograph or film of genitals
188Sharing or threatening to share intimate photograph or film
Repeals and amendments in connection with offences
189Repeals in connection with offences under sections 179 and 181
190Repeals in connection with offences under section 188
191Consequential amendments
PART 11Supplementary and general
Providers' judgements about the status of content
192Providers’ judgements about the status of content
193OFCOM’s guidance about illegal content judgements
Time-limits for first guidance
194Time for publishing first guidance under certain provisions of this Act
Liability of providers etc
195Providers that are not legal persons
196Individuals providing regulated services: liability
197Liability of parent entities etc
198Former providers of regulated services
Offences
199Information offences: supplementary
200Offence of failure to comply with confirmation decision: supplementary
201Defences
202Liability of corporate officers for offences
203Application of offences to providers that are not legal persons
Extra-territorial application
204Extra-territorial application
205Offences: extra-territorial application and jurisdiction
Payment of sums into Consolidated Fund
206Payment of sums into the Consolidated Fund
Publication by OFCOM
207Publication by OFCOM
Service of notices
208Service of notices
Repeals and amendments
209Amendments of Part 4B of the Communications Act
210Repeal of Part 4B of the Communications Act
211Repeal of Part 4B of the Communications Act: transitional provision etc
212Repeals: Digital Economy Act 2017
213Offence under the Obscene Publications Act 1959: OFCOM defence
214Offences regarding indecent photographs of children: OFCOM defence
Power to amend Act to regulate app stores
215Power to regulate app stores
216Power to regulate app stores: supplementary
Power to amend Act: alternative dispute resolution
217Power to impose duty about alternative dispute resolution procedure
Other powers to amend Act
218Power to amend section 40
219Powers to amend sections 61 and 62
220Powers to amend or repeal provisions relating to exempt content or services
221Powers to amend Part 2 of Schedule 1
222Powers to amend Schedules 5, 6 and 7
Regulations
223Power to make consequential provision
224Regulations: general
225Parliamentary procedure for regulations
PART 12Interpretation and final provisions
Interpretation
226“Provider” of internet service
227“User”, “United Kingdom user” and “interested person”
228“Internet service”
229“Search engine”
230“Age verification” and “age estimation”
231“Proactive technology”
232Content communicated “publicly” or “privately”
233“Functionality”
234“Harm” etc
235“Online safety functions” and “online safety matters”
236Interpretation: general
237Index of defined terms
Final provisions
238Financial provisions
239Extent
240Commencement and transitional provision
241Short title
SCHEDULES
SCHEDULE 1Exempt user-to-user and search services
PART 1Descriptions of services which are exempt
1Email services
2SMS and MMS services
3Services offering only one-to-one live aural communications
4Limited functionality services
5Services which enable combinations of user-generated content
6Exception to exemptions in paragraphs 1 to 5
7Internal business services (entire user-to-user service or search service)
8Internal business services (part of user-to-user service or search service)
9Services provided by public bodies
10Services provided by persons providing education or childcare
11Interpretation
PART 2Paragraph 10 exemption: descriptions of education and childcare
12England
13Early years provision by a person registered under Chapter 2...
14Later years childminding by a later years childminder registered under...
15Later years provision by a person registered under Chapter 3...
16Education or childcare in a maintained nursery school within the...
17Education or childcare in— (a) an Academy school, within the...
18Education in— (a) an institution in England within the further...
19Education provided by an independent training provider.
20Further education for persons under 19 provided by a local...
21In paragraphs 12 to 15, “early years childminding”, “early years...
22In paragraph 19, “independent training provider” means a provider—
23In paragraphs 20 and 22, “local authority in England” has...
24In paragraph 22— “combined authority” means a combined authority established...
25Scotland
26Child minding, within the meaning of Part 5 of the...
27Day care of children, within the meaning of Part 5...
28Primary education, secondary education or childcare in—
29Further education provided by a body listed under the heading...
30Further education provided by a college of further education which...
31Wales
32Day care for children by a person who is registered...
33Primary education, secondary education or childcare in a school in...
34Education provided in accordance with section 19A of the Education...
35Further education in an institution in Wales within the further...
36Any other post-16 education or training in Wales, the facilities...
37In paragraphs 31 and 32, “child minding” and “day care...
38Northern Ireland
39Pre-school education, within the meaning of Part 5 of the...
40Education in a nursery school, within the meaning of the...
41Education or childcare in a school, within the meaning of...
42Education which is suitable education otherwise than at school provided...
43Education in an institution of further education, within the meaning...
44Education in agriculture and related subjects.
PART 3Interpretation
45The following definitions apply for the purposes of this Schedule....
46“Childcare”— (a) in relation to provision in England, has same...
47“Education”— (a) in relation to provision in England, Wales and...
48“Education in agriculture and related subjects”, in relation to provision...
49“Further education”— (a) in relation to provision in England and...
50“Higher education”— (a) in relation to provision in England and...
51“Primary education” and “secondary education”— (a) in relation to provision...
SCHEDULE 2User-to-user services and search services that include regulated provider pornographic content
1A user-to-user service described in any of paragraphs 1 to...
2(1) A user-to-user service within sub-paragraph (2) or (3).
3(1) A search service within sub-paragraph (2).
4For the purposes of this Schedule, a service “has links...
5In this Schedule— “the internal business service conditions” means the...
SCHEDULE 3Timing of providers’ assessments
PART 1Timing of illegal content risk assessments and children’s access assessments
1Part 3 services already in operation at the outset of the regime provided for by this Act
2New Part 3 services which start up, and existing services which become Part 3 services, between publication of the first illegal content risk assessment guidance and the first CAA guidance
3New Part 3 services which start up when illegal content risk assessment guidance and CAA guidance are both available
4Existing services which become Part 3 services when illegal content risk assessment guidance and CAA guidance are both available
PART 2Timing of children’s risk assessments and section 15(2) assessments
5Children’s risk assessments
6Section 15(2) assessments
PART 3Pre-existing Part 4B services
7Interpretation of this Part
8(1) In this Part, “assessment start day”, in relation to...
9In this Part “video-sharing platform service” has the same meaning...
10Any reference in this Part to the effect of Part...
Pre-existing Part 4B services which are regulated user-to-user services
11Application of paragraphs 12 to 14
12Illegal content risk assessments and children’s access assessments
13If, on the assessment start day, illegal content risk assessment...
14Section 15(2) assessments
Regulated user-to-user services which include a pre-existing Part 4B service
15Application of paragraphs 16 to 20
16Illegal content risk assessments and children’s access assessments of Part 4B part
17If, on the assessment start day, illegal content risk assessment...
18Section 15(2) assessments of Part 4B part
19Application of Part 1 and paragraph 6
20Application of paragraph 5
PART 4Interpretation, and extension of three-month periods
21Interpretation of this Schedule
22For the meaning of “likely to be accessed by children”,...
23In relation to regulated user-to-user services (or in the case...
24In relation to regulated search services and the search engine...
25In relation to regulated user-to-user services (or in the case...
26In relation to regulated search services and the search engine...
27For the purposes of this Schedule, guidance of a particular...
28Extension of three-month periods
SCHEDULE 4Codes of practice under section 41: principles, objectives, content
1General principles
2The principles are as follows— (a) providers of Part 3...
3Online safety objectives
4The online safety objectives for regulated user-to-user services are as...
5The online safety objectives for regulated search services are as...
6In the case of a combined service—
7The Secretary of State may by regulations amend paragraph 4...
8If regulations are made amending the online safety objectives, OFCOM...
9Content of codes of practice
10(1) Measures described in a code of practice which are...
11Measures described in a code of practice may relate only...
12Content of codes of practice: age assurance
13Content of codes of practice: proactive technology
14General
15A code of practice may apply in relation to a...
16Interpretation
SCHEDULE 5Terrorism offences
1An offence under any of the following provisions of the...
2An offence under section 113 of the Anti-terrorism, Crime and...
3An offence under any of the following provisions of the...
4Inchoate offences
SCHEDULE 6Child sexual exploitation and abuse offences
PART 1England and Wales, and Northern Ireland
1An offence under section 2 of the Obscene Publications Act...
2An offence under section 1 of the Protection of Children...
3An offence under Article 3 of the Protection of Children...
4An offence under section 160 of the Criminal Justice Act...
5An offence under any of the following provisions of the...
6An offence under any of the following provisions of the...
7An offence under section 62 of the Coroners and Justice...
8An offence under section 69 of the Serious Crime Act...
9Inchoate offences
PART 2Scotland
10An offence under either of the following provisions of the...
11An offence under any of the following provisions of the...
12An offence under any of the following provisions of the...
13Inchoate offences
SCHEDULE 7Priority offences
1Assisting suicide
2An offence under section 13 of the Criminal Justice Act...
3Threats to kill
4Public order offences, harassment, stalking and fear or provocation of violence
5An offence under any of the following provisions of the...
6An offence under section 50A of the Criminal Law (Consolidation)...
7An offence under any of the following provisions of the...
8An offence under any of the following provisions of the...
9An offence under any of the following provisions of the...
10An offence under any of the following provisions of the...
11An offence under section 76 of the Serious Crime Act...
12Drugs and psychoactive substances
13An offence under section 5 of the Psychoactive Substances Act...
14Firearms and other weapons
15An offence under any of the following provisions of the...
16An offence under any of the following provisions of the...
17An offence under any of the following provisions of the...
18An offence under any of the following provisions of the...
19An offence under any of the following provisions of the...
20An offence under any of the following provisions of the...
21An offence under section 36(1)(c) or (d) of the Violent...
22An offence under any of the following provisions of the...
23Assisting illegal immigration
24Human trafficking
25An offence under section 1 of the Human Trafficking and...
26An offence under section 2 of the Human Trafficking and...
27Sexual exploitation
28An offence under any of the following provisions of the...
29Sexual images
30An offence under section 33 of the Criminal Justice and...
31An offence under section 2 of the Abusive Behaviour and...
32Proceeds of crime
33Fraud
34An offence under section 49(3) of the Criminal Justice and...
35Financial services
36An offence under any of the following provisions of the...
37Foreign interference
38Animal welfare
39Inchoate offences
SCHEDULE 8Transparency reports by providers of Category 1 services, Category 2A services and Category 2B services
PART 1Matters about which information may be required: user-to-user part of service
1The incidence of illegal content, content that is harmful to...
2The dissemination of illegal content, content that is harmful to...
3The number of users who are assumed to have encountered...
4The formulation, development, scope and application of the terms of...
5The systems and processes for users to report content which...
6The systems and processes that a provider operates to deal...
7Functionalities designed to help users manage risks relating to content...
8Features, including functionalities, that a provider considers may contribute to...
9The design and operation of algorithms which affect the display,...
10Measures taken or in use by a provider to comply...
11Measures taken or in use by a provider to comply...
12Arrangements that a provider has in place for the reporting...
13Measures taken or in use by a provider to comply...
14Measures taken or in use by a provider to comply...
15The systems and processes by which a provider assesses the...
16The systems and processes that a provider operates—
17Co-operation by a provider with government, regulatory or other public...
18Measures taken or in use by a provider to provide...
19Measures taken or in use by a provider to improve...
20Any other measures taken or in use by a provider...
PART 2Matters about which information may be required: search engine
21The incidence of illegal search content and search content that...
22The number of users who are assumed to have encountered...
23The formulation, development, scope and application of the statements of...
24The systems and processes for users to report search content...
25The systems and processes that a provider operates to deal...
26Functionalities designed to help users manage risks relating to search...
27The design and operation of algorithms which affect the display,...
28Measures taken or in use by a provider to comply...
29Arrangements that a provider has in place for the reporting...
30Measures taken or in use by a provider to comply...
31The systems and processes by which a provider assesses the...
32The systems and processes that a provider operates—
33Co-operation by a provider with government, regulatory or other public...
34Measures taken or in use by a provider to provide...
35Measures taken or in use by a provider to improve...
36Any other measures taken or in use by a provider...
PART 3Further provision and interpretation
37When determining which information to require in a notice under...
38The Secretary of State may by regulations—
39The Secretary of State must consult OFCOM before making regulations...
40In the application of Part 2 of this Schedule to...
41(1) For the purposes of this Schedule, content of a...
42In this Schedule— “consumer content” has the same meaning as...
SCHEDULE 9Certain internet services not subject to duties relating to regulated provider pornographic content
1Internal business services (entire internet service)
2Internal business services (part of internet service)
3Services provided by public bodies
4Services provided by persons providing education or childcare
5On-demand programme services (entire internet service)
6On-demand programme services (part of internet service)
7Interpretation
SCHEDULE 10Recovery of OFCOM’s initial costs
1Recovery of initial costs
2Recovery of initial costs: first phase
3Further recovery of initial costs
4End of the recovery process
5Providers for part of a year only
6Calculation of the recoverable amount
7Regulations about recovery of initial costs
8Interpretation
SCHEDULE 11Categories of regulated user-to-user services and regulated search services: regulations
1Regulations specifying threshold conditions for categories of Part 3 services
2Procedure for first regulations under paragraph 1
3Procedure for amending or replacing regulations under paragraph 1
4Publication of OFCOM’s advice under paragraphs 2 and 3
5Interpretation
6In this Schedule the “characteristics” of a user-to-user part of...
7In this Schedule— “content that is harmful to children” has...
SCHEDULE 12OFCOM’s powers of entry, inspection and audit
1Authorised persons
2Power of entry and inspection without a warrant
3Notice requiring information, documents or tests at inspection
4Audit
5Conditions for issue of a warrant
6Evidence of authority
7Powers exercisable by warrant
8Powers of seizure: supplementary
9Further provision about executing warrants
10Entry and search under a warrant must be within the...
11An authorised person executing a warrant may take such other...
12A person taken on to the premises under paragraph 11...
13An authorised person may use reasonable force, if necessary, for...
14A warrant authorises entry on one occasion only, unless it...
15If the premises are unoccupied or the occupier is temporarily...
16Return of warrants
17Restrictions on powers
18Offences
19Interpretation
20References in this Schedule to a person “acting under this...
21In this Schedule “enforceable requirement” has the same meaning as...
22In paragraphs 6 to 17 and 20 “warrant” means a...
23In the application of paragraph 5(1) to Scotland, the reference...
24In the application of paragraph 5(1) to Northern Ireland, the...
SCHEDULE 13Penalties imposed by OFCOM under Chapter 6 of Part 7
1Meaning of “penalty” in this Schedule
2Amount of penalties: principles
3Limitation to type and amount of penalties previously proposed
4Maximum amount of penalties
5Maximum amount of penalties: group of entities
6Recovery of penalties
SCHEDULE 14Amendments consequential on offences in Part 10 of this Act
PART 1Amendments consequential on offences in sections 179, 181 and 183
1Football Spectators Act 1989
2Sexual Offences Act 2003
3In Schedule 5 to the Sexual Offences Act 2003, in...
4Regulatory Enforcement and Sanctions Act 2008
5Elections Act 2022
PART 2Amendments consequential on offence in section 184
6Children and Young Persons Act 1933
7Visiting Forces Act 1952
8Children and Young Persons Act (Northern Ireland) 1968 (c. 34 (N.I.))
9Criminal Attempts Act 1981
10Criminal Attempts and Conspiracy (Northern Ireland) Order 1983 (S.I. 1983/1120 (N.I. 13))
11Armed Forces Act 2006
12Serious Crime Act 2007
PART 3Amendments consequential on offences in sections 187 and 188
13Children and Young Persons Act 1933
14Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984
15Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act 1992
16Sexual Offences Act 2003
17Criminal Justice Act 2003
18Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014
19Modern Slavery Act 2015
20Sentencing Act 2020
21Elections Act 2022
PART 4Amendments consequential on section 190
22Criminal Justice and Courts Act 2015
23Domestic Abuse Act 2021
24Overseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) Act 2021
25Criminal Justice (Electronic Commerce) (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2021 (S.I. 2021/835)
SCHEDULE 15Liability of parent entities etc
1Joint provisional notices of contravention
2Liability of parent entities for failures by subsidiary entities
3Liability of subsidiary entities for failures by parent entities
4Liability of fellow subsidiary entities for failures by subsidiary entities
5Liability of controlling individuals for failures by entities
6OFCOM’s guidance
7Interpretation
8In its application for the purposes of this Schedule, paragraph...
9For the purposes of this Schedule, sections 1161(4) and 1162...
SCHEDULE 16Amendments of Part 4B of the Communications Act
1Part 4B of the Communications Act (video-sharing platform services) is...
2In section 368U (maintenance of list of providers)—
3In section 368V(4) (meaning of “significant differences”), for the words...
4In section 368Y(2)(d) (information to be provided by providers of...
5In section 368Z1(3) (duty to take appropriate measures), for the...
6In section 368Z10(3)(a) (power to demand information), for the words...
7For section 368Z12 (co-operation with member States and the European...
SCHEDULE 17Video-sharing platform services: transitional provision etc
PART 1Interpretation
1(1) In this Schedule, “pre-existing Part 4B service” means—
2In this Schedule— “the relevant day”, in relation to a...
PART 2During the transitional period
3Pre-existing Part 4B services which are regulated user-to-user services
4Regulated user-to-user services that include regulated provider pornographic content
5Pre-existing Part 4B services which form part of regulated user-to-user services
6Regulated user-to-user services with a Part 4B part and another user-to-user part
7Regulated user-to-user services with a Part 4B part and a search engine
8Regulated user-to-user services with a Part 4B part but no other user-to-user part or search engine
9Assessments of pre-existing Part 4B services or of services which include a pre-existing Part 4B service
10Operation of section 368U of the Communications Act
11Video-sharing platform services which start up, or start up again, during the transitional period
12(1) Sub-paragraph (2) applies in relation to a pre-existing Part...
13Paragraphs 11 and 12 apply regardless of whether, or when,...
PART 3Application of Part 6 of this Act: fees
14Introduction
15In this Part “relevant regulated service” means—
16Application of section 83
17(1) This paragraph applies in relation to a person who...
18Application of section 84: transitional charging year
19(1) If a person who is the provider of a...
20Application of section 84: non-transitional charging year
21Amounts wholly referable to relevant Part 4B service
22Interpretation of this Part
23For the purposes of this Part a charging year is...
24(1) In this Part “exempt provider” means a person within...
25In this Part the following terms have the same meaning...
PART 4After the end of the transitional period
26Interpretation of this Part
27For the purposes of this Part an investigation relating to...
28OFCOM as appropriate regulatory authority
29Duties of service providers to co-operate with investigations
30Demands for information, and enforcement of such demands
31Enforcement notifications, financial penalties etc
32Suspension or restriction of service for contraventions or failures

Online Safety Act 2023

2023 Chapter 50

An Act to make provision for and in connection with the regulation by OFCOM of certain internet services; for and in connection with communications offences; and for connected purposes.

Be it enacted by the King’s most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:—