We're investigating whether TikTok's age assurance measures are effective at protecting UK children from harmful content. This follows our new report looking at the use of age checks under the Online Safety Act.
Online Safety Act Network
@osanetwork.bsky.social
Updates, commentary and analysis on the implementation of the UK's #OnlineSafetyAct www.onlinesafetyact.net
Here's our response to today's #DSIT #socialmedia announcement along with links to the various published documents. www.onlinesafetyact.net/analysis/res...
@ofcom.bsky.social has today published the #onlinesafetyact register of categorised services along with a consultation on the additional duties - including on scam ads - relating to those services. Here's an explainer to help navigate the multiple documents: www.onlinesafetyact.net/analysis/osa...
OSA Phase 3: register of categorised services and related duties
This explainer from Prof Lorna Woods provides a high-level overview of the various documents published by Ofcom as part of the third phase of Online Safety Act implementation. We will be publishing co...
onlinesafetyact.net
Following multiple instances of social media-fueled violence, Demos Digital interim director Hannah Perry argues the next UK government should move the Defending Democracy Taskforce into Downing Street and publish a new strategy for information ecosystems resilience.
New UK Prime Minister Should Elevate Defending Democracy Taskforce to Tackle Bots and Protect Trusted News
The next government needs to build a more resilient information ecosystem, writes Demos Digital interim director Hannah Perry.
buff.ly
Someone has to say it. The amount of racism directed at World Cup players - including in the England squad - online is out of control.
UK Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy quits TwitterX. This should be the first of many.
Musk has the most followed account on X. He's using it to amplify anti-migrant narratives that fueled violent riots in Belfast, weeks after agreeing to a compliance program on illegal hate. We joined 40+ organizations urging the incoming Prime Minister to strengthen the UK's online safety laws 👇
Dozens Of Organisations Urge Burnham To Strengthen Online Safety Laws
Exclusive: A coalition of charities, campaign groups, researchers and academics has urged Andy Burnham to strengthen online safety laws if, as expe...
politicshome.com
Exc: A coalition of charities, campaign groups, researchers & academics has urged Burnham to strengthen online safety laws when he enters No 10 A statement led by the Online Safety Network calls on Burnham to bring in new legislation that'd be regularly updated to keep pace with evolving technology
Dozens Of Organisations Urge Burnham To Strengthen Online Safety Laws
Exclusive: A coalition of charities, campaign groups, researchers and academics has urged Andy Burnham to strengthen online safety laws if, as expe...
politicshome.com
Thanks to @zoecrowther.bsky.social @politicshome.bsky.social for covering our call - backed by dozens of our partners - calling on the new PM to deliver a more ambitious approach to #onlinesafety and #AI policy and regulation. Full statement here: www.onlinesafetyact.net/analysis/onl...
Online safety: the opportunities ahead for the new Prime Minister
This joint statement has been signed by 47 of our Network partners, who are listed below. The past six months have brought debates about children’s online safety to the very heart of British life and ...
onlinesafetyact.net
Zoë Crowther@zoecrowther.bsky.social · last mo.EXC: A coalition of charities, campaign groups, and academics has urged Andy Burnham to strengthen online safety laws if he enters No10 47 organisations said in a statement that the govt's approach to online safety has been "fragmented and slow" and a new PM should be an opportunity for a reset
🆕Our latest #onlinesafety newsletter out today 💡All the reaction to the Government's #socialmedia ban announcement. 🎁And much, much more. 📰Read it all here: us4.campaign-archive.com?u=8569c2a504... 🖊️Sign up here: onlinesafetyact.us4.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=...
It's about time! First UK government department quits X over racism and violence concerns observer.co.uk/news/politic...
First government department quits X over racism and viole...
Concern about the spread of misinformation from right-wing figures prompts Richard Hermer to pull Attorney General’s Office off platform
observer.co.uk
🆕 Explainer from our expert legal adviser Prof Lorna Woods OBE on what the Government announced on Monday (and what it didn't) and how this fits with the legislative powers it has already taken for itself. 1/2 www.onlinesafetyact.net/analysis/the...
The UK social media ban and other measures
The Government has announced the first stage of his response to the “Growing up in the Online World” consultation, with the headlines including the proposal to ban children under-16 from accessing soc...
onlinesafetyact.net
The case for decisive action to address the harms created by social media platforms has been successfully made by children, parents, safety campaigners and many others. But the Government’s announcement today does them a disservice. 1/5
The PM has announced the much-trailed #socialmedia ban for under-16s. The #DSIT press release here and the Secretary of State will be giving a statement to Parliament this afternoon. We'll be publishing our initial response on what we know - and what we don't - shortly. www.gov.uk/government/n...?
Social media to be banned for under-16s in landmark government move to give kids their childhood back
Social media platforms to be blocked from offering services to under-16s, marking a line in the sand and setting a new normal for future generations.
gov.uk
We are proud to join over 100 organisations and campaigners standing with Jess Asato MP in her significant, and brave, step to seek accountability from xAI, not just for herself but the countless women and girls harmed, as reported in @the-independent.com: 1/5 www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/poli...
More than 100 campaigners back MP suing Elon Musk’s xAI over deepfake images of her
Exclusive: Jess Asato says the support she has received ‘feels like a shout for women’s freedom on the internet’
independent.co.uk
UK MP Jess Asato is suing xAI, after Grok produced a fake sexualized image of her. This isn't a one-off. We found that Grok produced an estimated 3 MILLION sexualized images over just 11 days. This case is an important step, but we need real regulation to hold AI companies accountable.
On Friday, X promised to review and assess at least 85% of UK suspected illegal terrorist and hate content within a max of 48 hours By Monday, dozens of racist posts targeting British public figures were still online more than 48 hours after being reported
X Accused Of Failing To Remove Racist Abuse Despite New Ofcom Commitments
X has been accused of failing to honour commitments made to the UK communications regulator, after dozens of racist posts targeting ethnic minority...
politicshome.com
🆕 Our response to @ofcom.bsky.social's report on platforms' actions to protect children online, which makes for particularly concerning reading. TL:DR: The tech companies must do better. But so must the regulator. #safetybydesign #onlinesafetyact www.onlinesafetyact.net/analysis/ofc...
Ofcom vows to take stronger action on platforms failing to take action to protect children online
Today Ofcom published the results of their call to action to tech platforms to update them on their progress on complying with the Online Safety Act’s children’s duties, identifying four themes: prote...
onlinesafetyact.net
📊 84% of UK public think that requiring companies to prove their products are designed to be safe BEFORE use would keep people safe on social media platforms. 🚨Only 2% think platforms are doing a good job of reducing harm. New YouGov polling out today: www.onlinesafetyact.net/analysis/uk-... 🧵⬇️
New blog on #onlineabuse of candidates, the impact on democratic participation and the failure of the Government to act. www.onlinesafetyact.net/analysis/onl...
Online abuse is hindering democratic participation whilst the Government fails to act
As the UK faces the fallout from a crushing defeat to Labour at the local elections last week, parties have reported “the worst year in memory” for abuse of candidates, both online and in-person. The ...
onlinesafetyact.net
What the King didn't say: the online safety-shaped hole in the Government's legislative agenda ⬇️ www.onlinesafetyact.net/analysis/wha...
What the King didn't say: the online safety-shaped hole in the Government's legislative agenda
This week, in her explosive resignation letter, the Home Office Minister Jess Phillips revealed what civil society campaigners have known for months: that Keir Starmer’s No10 has been the blocker to a...
onlinesafetyact.net
(1/2) On the one year anniversary of the Illegal Harms Codes under the OSA, we brought together UK partners working to tackle online child sexual exploitation and abuse (CSEA) for a roundtable on the Government’s proposed under 16 social media ban. Our discussion focused on two priorities...
🆕 AI chatbots are already helping users plan violent attacks. CCDH and @cnn.com found chatbots assisting accounts posing as teens with school shootings, stabbings, and bomb threats. That’s why we’re backing changes to the UK Crime & Policing Bill👇
Killer Apps — Center for Countering Digital Hate | CCDH
8 in 10 AI chatbots regularly assisted users in planning violent attacks including school shootings, bombings, and assassinations, a new CCDH report found.
counterhate.com
I spoke to Baroness Kidron for @tbij.bsky.social about her proposed legal amendment which would make it an offence to create a chatbot that produces content that is illegal, or harmful, exploitative or coercive towards children. Read it in full ⬇️ www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2026...
📣 It's newsletter day! 📰 Read on. ✒️ Sign on. 💡 Think on. 🔗 Stay connected. 👉 us4.campaign-archive.com?e=6cf6aab125... #onlinesafety #onlinesafetyact #onlineharms #internetregulation #socialmedia #AIregulation #AI #chatbots #safetybydesign #onlineabuse #onlinescams #childsafety #misinformation
HoL amendment to bring in a #socialmedia ban rejected last night in favour of the Government's alternative to leave options open post-consultation. 107 Labour MPs abstained. Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill now goes back to the Lords. #onlinesafetyact www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...
MPs reject ban on social media for under-16s
Ban could still be introduced in future after Commons back government bid to give extra powers to secretary of state
theguardian.com
The Government has tabled two amendments to give them powers to bring in new measures, including potentially a #socialmedia ban, once their children's #onlinesafety consultation has concluded. Here's how they work and why this approach is problematic: www.onlinesafetyact.net/analysis/osa...
OSA amendments and Henry VIII clauses
Following the Government's recent press release announcing that it would act swiftly to implement the findings of its consultation on children’s online safety (“Growing up in an Online World”), it has...
onlinesafetyact.net
Tonight, the documentary, Molly vs. The Machines will be shown at 9pm on Channel 4. It tells the heartbreaking story of Molly Russell who tragically took her own life aged just 14 after viewing harmful content online. Molly’s story, as told by her family and friends, is not an isolated one. 1/