UK Online Safety Regulations and impact on Forums
- Thread starter lazy llama
- Start date
-
- Tags
- regulation
This was the quote I was trying to find the other day
"The UK's regulator for enforcing the new age verification requirements, Ofcom, has naturally advised against using a VPN as a workaround.
In a statement to the BBC, it confirmed that it will be illegal for platforms to "host, share or permit content encouraging the use of VPNs to get around age checks".
So yes it does seem that advertising VPN's on a site that comes under the remit of the OSA could be an issue. But presumably only if it's a site that actually requires age veriification - eg an adult site or certain topic site.
www.techradar.com
"The UK's regulator for enforcing the new age verification requirements, Ofcom, has naturally advised against using a VPN as a workaround.
In a statement to the BBC, it confirmed that it will be illegal for platforms to "host, share or permit content encouraging the use of VPNs to get around age checks".
So yes it does seem that advertising VPN's on a site that comes under the remit of the OSA could be an issue. But presumably only if it's a site that actually requires age veriification - eg an adult site or certain topic site.
Angry UK internet users want to repeal the Online Safety Act – here are 5 reasons why
There are a plenty of dissenting voices, as age verification kicks in
Published 4 days ago by Gov - so it looks like you would be expected to block ads from vpn's yes.
"Virtual Private Networks
While Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) are legal in the UK, according to this law, platforms have a clear responsibility to prevent children from bypassing safety protections. This includes blocking content that promotes VPNs or other workarounds specifically aimed at young users.
This means that where platforms deliberately target UK children and promote VPN use, they could face enforcement action, including significant financial penalties."
www.gov.uk
"Virtual Private Networks
While Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) are legal in the UK, according to this law, platforms have a clear responsibility to prevent children from bypassing safety protections. This includes blocking content that promotes VPNs or other workarounds specifically aimed at young users.
This means that where platforms deliberately target UK children and promote VPN use, they could face enforcement action, including significant financial penalties."
Keeping children safe online: changes to the Online Safety Act explained
How new laws that keep children safe on the internet work.
zappaDPJ
Well-known member
I see Kyle, the clueless Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology has put his name to the Government press release (linked above) which states...
'As well as legal duties to keep children safe, the very same law places clear and unequivocal duties on platforms to protect freedom of expression. Failure to meet either obligation can lead to severe penalties, including fines of up to 10% of global revenue or £18 million, whichever is greater.'
Really? So now the Act protects freedom of expression with the same eye-watering financial penalties for noncompliance? I must have missed that while wading through the bazillion pages of waffle relating to the Act.
'As well as legal duties to keep children safe, the very same law places clear and unequivocal duties on platforms to protect freedom of expression. Failure to meet either obligation can lead to severe penalties, including fines of up to 10% of global revenue or £18 million, whichever is greater.'
Really? So now the Act protects freedom of expression with the same eye-watering financial penalties for noncompliance? I must have missed that while wading through the bazillion pages of waffle relating to the Act.
Last edited:
