Can you help my platform comply with the Online Safety Act?

The UK Online Safety Act (OSA) became law in October 2023. Its main goal is to protect children and adults online by making platforms responsible for the safety of their users. Ofcom, the UK's communications regulator, enforces the Act and publishes codes of practice explaining how platforms can meet their duties.

The OSA applies to services that host user-generated content (UGC) or let users interact with each other, as well as to search services, as soon as they have links with the UK (for instance a significant number of UK users), wherever the company is based. Its duties have been phased in: the illegal content duties have been enforceable since March 2025, and the child safety duties since July 2025. Companies that fail to comply can be fined up to £18 million or 10% of their qualifying worldwide revenue, whichever is greater.

Compliance, accountability and transparency are the three concepts to keep in mind when talking about the OSA. Content moderation is essential to create and maintain a safe and healthy environment for users, and it becomes even more crucial under these regulations. It is a service that can:

  • Help platforms comply with the regulations by quickly and proactively detecting illegal content and content that is harmful to children to ensure the safety of both adults and minors.
  • Help protect minors by preventing them from accessing content that is not suitable for them.
  • Provide guidance to platforms on how identified illegal UGC as well as harmful UGC should be treated under the law.
  • Improve transparency and accountability by providing more visibility on the type of UGC found on the platform and how it is monitored.

Be sure to check our Knowledge Center to learn more about Content Moderation.

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