On Monday, a new law came into effect in the UK that forces social media companies like Meta, Google, and TikTok to take down harmful content or face huge fines. The law, known as the Online Safety Act, was passed in 2023, and the country’s telecoms watchdog, Ofcom, just published a list of 130 things social media platforms must remove to avoid penalties.
These rules cover serious issues like terrorism, human trafficking, and the sharing of child sexual abuse material. But it doesn’t stop there—Ofcom also wants to stop things like racial hatred and hate based on religion or sexual orientation. These are already illegal, but the law’s guidelines give social media platforms clear instructions on what to remove.
What makes this law tricky is that some offenses are complicated. For example, some actions might involve conversations between users, or situations where the people involved have to be considered, like their age, gender, or identity. This means social media platforms need to be extra careful in monitoring and removing harmful content.
One part of the law that stirred up controversy was a suggestion to ban certain types of “legal but harmful” content, which could include things like offensive opinions or posts that upset people but aren’t technically illegal. This idea was dropped after strong opposition from government officials, but there are reports that it might be brought back after the UK faced a wave of anti-immigration and anti-Islam riots this summer.
The penalties for not following these new rules are severe. Social media companies could be fined up to 10% of their global earnings—which could amount to millions of dollars! For repeat offenders, individual managers might even face jail time, and Ofcom could go so far as to block access to the platform in the UK altogether.
The law affects over 100,000 companies worldwide, from massive social media platforms to smaller businesses offering services like online dating, entertainment, and gambling. The rules are clear: comply or face severe consequences.
This new law is changing how social media works in the UK, and the impact could be huge—both for companies and users. Stay tuned to see how it plays out and what it means for the future of online content.
