The Labour government in the U.K., under Prime Minister Keir Starmer, is considering significant revisions to the Online Safety Act in response to recent events involving misinformation and hate speech. This review comes in the wake of severe disturbances fueled by false information and provocative statements from high-profile individuals, including Elon Musk.
The Online Safety Act, a landmark piece of legislation, aims to compel social media platforms and streaming services to actively prevent the spread of illegal and harmful content. The law mandates that tech companies identify, mitigate, and manage risks associated with various types of harmful material, including child sexual abuse, fraud, hate speech, and terrorism. Once fully implemented, which is expected by 2025, the regulatory body Ofcom will have the authority to impose substantial fines—up to 10% of a company’s global annual revenues—for breaches of the Act. Persistent offenders could even face criminal charges, including imprisonment.
Recent riots in the U.K., driven by misinformation about an attack on children in Southport and inflammatory comments made by Musk, have intensified calls for a review of the Act. The violence, which included attacks on shops and mosques, was sparked by false claims about the attacker’s identity being shared widely on social media. Musk’s controversial remarks, including a suggestion that civil war was inevitable and a fabricated headline about detainment camps, further exacerbated the situation and drew criticism from U.K. officials.
In light of these events, senior officials have suggested that the Act may need to be revised to more effectively combat disinformation, hate speech, and incitement to violence. Nick Thomas-Symonds, Minister for the Cabinet Office, has indicated that the government is prepared to make necessary changes if the current provisions prove inadequate. However, the specifics of these changes remain under discussion, and the government has yet to finalize its approach.
Industry sources have revealed that while there is a strong intent to address these issues, concrete policy adjustments have not yet been developed. Some sources believe the review may only take place once the Act is fully in force, potentially in 2025. Critics argue that this approach may delay meaningful reform, suggesting that the government’s current stance might be more about appearing decisive rather than implementing immediate solutions.
Labour had previously committed to enhancing the Online Safety Act in its election manifesto, reflecting a broader commitment to addressing online harms. Critics, including Mayor of London Sadiq Khan, have called for a rapid assessment of the Act’s effectiveness, noting that its current provisions may not be sufficient to address the complexities of modern disinformation.
Joe Ondrak, research and tech lead at tech company Logically, has highlighted that while the Act includes some measures against disinformation, it does not adequately address domestic misinformation, which remains a significant gap. The Act’s focus on foreign state actors is an important step, but a comprehensive approach to all forms of disinformation is needed.
As discussions continue, the Department for Science, Innovation, and Technology, responsible for overseeing online safety regulations, has yet to provide a detailed response to CNBC’s inquiries. The evolution of the Online Safety Act will be closely watched as the U.K. seeks to balance robust regulation with the rapid pace of technological change and the complex nature of online threats.
This ongoing review and potential tightening of regulations reflect the urgent need for effective measures to ensure that social media platforms and other digital services are held accountable for preventing the spread of harmful content and protecting public safety.