- Latest available (Revised)
- Original (As enacted)
Online Safety Act 2023
You are here:
What Version
Advanced Features
- Show Geographical Extent(e.g. England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland)
- Show Timeline of Changes
Opening Options
More Resources
Status:
This version of this part contains provisions that are prospective.
Status
The term provision is used to describe a definable element in a piece of legislation that has legislative effect – such as a Part, Chapter or section. A version of a provision is prospective either:
- where the provision (Part, Chapter or section) has never come into force or;
- where the text of the provision is subject to change, but no date has yet been appointed by the appropriate person or body for those changes to come into force.
Commencement Orders listed in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ box as not yet applied may bring this prospective version into force.
Changes to legislation:
There are currently no known outstanding effects for the Online Safety Act 2023, PART 1.
Changes to Legislation
Revised legislation carried on this site may not be fully up to date. At the current time any known changes or effects made by subsequent legislation have been applied to the text of the legislation you are viewing by the editorial team. Please see ‘Frequently Asked Questions’ for details regarding the timescales for which new effects are identified and recorded on this site.
PART 1U.K.Matters about which information may be required: user-to-user part of service
1U.K.The incidence of illegal content, content that is harmful to children, relevant content and content to which section 15(2) applies on a service.
Commencement Information
I1Sch. 8 para. 1 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 240(1)
I2Sch. 8 para. 1 in force at 10.1.2024 by S.I. 2023/1420, reg. 2(x)
2U.K.The dissemination of illegal content, content that is harmful to children, relevant content and content to which section 15(2) applies by means of a service.
Commencement Information
I3Sch. 8 para. 2 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 240(1)
I4Sch. 8 para. 2 in force at 10.1.2024 by S.I. 2023/1420, reg. 2(x)
3U.K.The number of users who are assumed to have encountered illegal content, content that is harmful to children, relevant content or content to which section 15(2) applies by means of the service.
Commencement Information
I5Sch. 8 para. 3 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 240(1)
I6Sch. 8 para. 3 in force at 10.1.2024 by S.I. 2023/1420, reg. 2(x)
4U.K.The formulation, development, scope and application of the terms of service.
Commencement Information
I7Sch. 8 para. 4 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 240(1)
I8Sch. 8 para. 4 in force at 10.1.2024 by S.I. 2023/1420, reg. 2(x)
5U.K.The systems and processes for users to report content which they consider to be illegal content, content that is harmful to children or relevant content.
Commencement Information
I9Sch. 8 para. 5 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 240(1)
I10Sch. 8 para. 5 in force at 10.1.2024 by S.I. 2023/1420, reg. 2(x)
6U.K.The systems and processes that a provider operates to deal with illegal content, content that is harmful to children and relevant content, including systems and processes for identifying such content and taking it down.
Commencement Information
I11Sch. 8 para. 6 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 240(1)
I12Sch. 8 para. 6 in force at 10.1.2024 by S.I. 2023/1420, reg. 2(x)
7U.K.Functionalities designed to help users manage risks relating to content that is harmful to children and relevant content.
Commencement Information
I13Sch. 8 para. 7 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 240(1)
I14Sch. 8 para. 7 in force at 10.1.2024 by S.I. 2023/1420, reg. 2(x)
8U.K.Features, including functionalities, that a provider considers may contribute to risks of harm to individuals using the service, and measures taken or in use by the provider to mitigate and manage those risks.
Commencement Information
I15Sch. 8 para. 8 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 240(1)
I16Sch. 8 para. 8 in force at 10.1.2024 by S.I. 2023/1420, reg. 2(x)
9U.K.The design and operation of algorithms which affect the display, promotion, restriction or recommendation of illegal content, content that is harmful to children, relevant content or content to which section 15(2) applies.
Commencement Information
I17Sch. 8 para. 9 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 240(1)
I18Sch. 8 para. 9 in force at 10.1.2024 by S.I. 2023/1420, reg. 2(x)
10U.K.Measures taken or in use by a provider to comply with any duty set out in Chapter 2 or 4 of Part 3 or section 38 (including in particular measures that are described in a code of practice under section 41).
Commencement Information
I19Sch. 8 para. 10 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 240(1)
I20Sch. 8 para. 10 in force at 10.1.2024 by S.I. 2023/1420, reg. 2(x)
Prospective
11U.K.Measures taken or in use by a provider to comply with the duty set out in section 64(1) (user identity verification).
Commencement Information
I21Sch. 8 para. 11 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 240(1)
Prospective
12U.K.Arrangements that a provider has in place for the reporting (in the United Kingdom or elsewhere) of content relating to child sexual exploitation and abuse, and measures taken or in use by a provider to comply with a requirement under section 66.
Commencement Information
I22Sch. 8 para. 12 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 240(1)
13U.K.Measures taken or in use by a provider to comply with any duty set out in section 71 or 72 (terms of service).
Commencement Information
I23Sch. 8 para. 13 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 240(1)
I24Sch. 8 para. 13 in force at 10.1.2024 for specified purposes by S.I. 2023/1420, reg. 2(x)
Prospective
14U.K.Measures taken or in use by a provider to comply with any duty set out in section 75 (deceased child users).
Commencement Information
I25Sch. 8 para. 14 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 240(1)
15U.K.The systems and processes by which a provider assesses the risk of harm to individuals from the presence of illegal content or content that is harmful to children—
(a)when the service is initially being designed or developed,
(b)when any further development or update to the service is being considered, and
(c)while the service is in operation.
Commencement Information
I26Sch. 8 para. 15 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 240(1)
I27Sch. 8 para. 15 in force at 10.1.2024 by S.I. 2023/1420, reg. 2(x)
16U.K.The systems and processes that a provider operates—
(a)to direct users of the service to information about how they can protect themselves from harm in relation to illegal content and content that is harmful to children, and
(b)to counteract or provide support to users of the service in relation to illegal content and content that is harmful to children present on the service.
Commencement Information
I28Sch. 8 para. 16 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 240(1)
I29Sch. 8 para. 16 in force at 10.1.2024 by S.I. 2023/1420, reg. 2(x)
17U.K.Co-operation by a provider with government, regulatory or other public sector bodies in the United Kingdom, in particular those involved in the enforcement of the criminal law.
Commencement Information
I30Sch. 8 para. 17 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 240(1)
I31Sch. 8 para. 17 in force at 10.1.2024 by S.I. 2023/1420, reg. 2(x)
18U.K.Measures taken or in use by a provider to provide for a higher standard of protection for children than for adults.
Commencement Information
I32Sch. 8 para. 18 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 240(1)
I33Sch. 8 para. 18 in force at 10.1.2024 by S.I. 2023/1420, reg. 2(x)
19U.K.Measures taken or in use by a provider to improve the media literacy of users, and an evaluation of the effectiveness of such measures.
Commencement Information
I34Sch. 8 para. 19 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 240(1)
I35Sch. 8 para. 19 in force at 10.1.2024 by S.I. 2023/1420, reg. 2(x)
20U.K.Any other measures taken or in use by a provider which relate to online safety matters.
Commencement Information
I36Sch. 8 para. 20 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 240(1)
I37Sch. 8 para. 20 in force at 10.1.2024 by S.I. 2023/1420, reg. 2(x)
Options/Help
Print Options
PrintThe Whole Act
PrintThe Whole Schedule
PrintThis Part only
You have chosen to open The Whole Act
The Whole Act you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.
Would you like to continue?
You have chosen to open The Whole Act as a PDF
The Whole Act you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download.
Would you like to continue?
You have chosen to open the Whole Act
The Whole Act you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.
Would you like to continue?
You have chosen to open the Whole Act without Schedules
The Whole Act without Schedules you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.
Would you like to continue?
You have chosen to open Schedules only
The Schedules you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.
Would you like to continue?
Legislation is available in different versions:
Latest Available (revised):The latest available updated version of the legislation incorporating changes made by subsequent legislation and applied by our editorial team. Changes we have not yet applied to the text, can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area.
Original (As Enacted or Made): The original version of the legislation as it stood when it was enacted or made. No changes have been applied to the text.
See additional information alongside the content
Geographical Extent: Indicates the geographical area that this provision applies to. For further information see ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.
Show Timeline of Changes: See how this legislation has or could change over time. Turning this feature on will show extra navigation options to go to these specific points in time. Return to the latest available version by using the controls above in the What Version box.
Opening Options
Different options to open legislation in order to view more content on screen at once
Explanatory Notes
Text created by the government department responsible for the subject matter of the Act to explain what the Act sets out to achieve and to make the Act accessible to readers who are not legally qualified. Explanatory Notes were introduced in 1999 and accompany all Public Acts except Appropriation, Consolidated Fund, Finance and Consolidation Acts.
More Resources
Access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item from this tab. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:
- the original print PDF of the as enacted version that was used for the print copy
- lists of changes made by and/or affecting this legislation item
- confers power and blanket amendment details
- all formats of all associated documents
- correction slips
- links to related legislation and further information resources
Timeline of Changes
This timeline shows the different points in time where a change occurred. The dates will coincide with the earliest date on which the change (e.g an insertion, a repeal or a substitution) that was applied came into force. The first date in the timeline will usually be the earliest date when the provision came into force. In some cases the first date is 01/02/1991 (or for Northern Ireland legislation 01/01/2006). This date is our basedate. No versions before this date are available. For further information see the Editorial Practice Guide and Glossary under Help.
More Resources
Use this menu to access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:
- the original print PDF of the as enacted version that was used for the print copy
- correction slips
Click 'View More' or select 'More Resources' tab for additional information including:
- lists of changes made by and/or affecting this legislation item
- confers power and blanket amendment details
- all formats of all associated documents
- links to related legislation and further information resources
All content is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0 except where otherwise stated. This site additionally contains content derived from EUR-Lex, reused under the terms of the Commission Decision 2011/833/EU on the reuse of documents from the EU institutions. For more information see the EUR-Lex public statement on re-use.