The UK Parliament has given the green light to the controversial Online Safety Bill, putting Ofcom, the communications watchdog, in charge of internet regulation. This step brings the legislation closer to becoming law.

The Online Safety Bill marks a pivotal shift in how online platforms operate, setting a precedent for digital governance and child protection.

Here are the key takeaways:

Bill’s Aim: Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay emphasized the government’s goal with the bill: to make the UK the safest online environment, especially for children. Ofcom is prepared to enforce the new regulations swiftly.

Penalties: Platforms that breach the new rules could face fines of up to 10% of their annual turnover or £18M, whichever is higher.

Background: The Online Safety Bill has evolved over years, originating as a white paper in 2019 that focused on illegal content such as terrorism. Over time, its scope expanded to cover a broad range of harmful online activities, from violent content to disinformation and cyberbullying.

Privacy Concerns: There are apprehensions regarding the bill’s impact on web security and privacy, especially concerning the potential for Ofcom to mandate platforms to scan messages for illegal content. This has stirred debates about encryption, leading to concerns among mainstream messaging platforms.

Age Restrictions: The legislation might push online services to implement age checks, limiting access to potentially inappropriate content for minors.

Censorship Debate: Wikipedia’s founder, Jimmy Wales, has critiqued the bill as potentially detrimental to human rights and internet safety. He vowed that Wikipedia would resist any form of censorship.

Economic Impact: Broader concerns linger about the bill’s potential burden on the UK’s digital economy, as it affects not just major platforms but also smaller online services that may struggle with compliance.