UK Online Safety Act 2023
The UK Online Safety Act 2023 establishes a comprehensive regulatory framework for online safety, placing duties on user-to-user services and search services to protect users from illegal content and, for larger platforms, content harmful to children. Ofcom is the regulator. Category 1 services (largest platforms with highest risk) face additional duties regarding content harmful to adults, user empowerment, and transparency. The Act covers illegal content duties, child safety duties, fraudulent advertising, and platform transparency. Significant penalties including up to 10% of global revenue.
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Framework Domains (7)
Children's Safety Duties
Protecting children from harmful online content
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| UK-OSA-CHILD-01 | Children's Risk Assessment |
| UK-OSA-CHILD-02 | Age Verification and Estimation |
| UK-OSA-CHILD-03 | Children's Safety Duties |
| UK-OSA-CHILD-04 | Ofcom Enforcement |
Illegal Content Duties
Duties to address illegal content including CSAM, terrorism, and fraud
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| UK-OSA-ILL-01 | Illegal Content Risk Assessment |
| UK-OSA-ILL-02 | Illegal Content Safety Duties |
| UK-OSA-ILL-03 | Content Reporting and Complaints |
| UK-OSA-ILL-04 | CSAM Detection |
Part 3 — Duties of Care
Illegal content duties, child safety duties, and adult user protections
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| UKOSA-DC-01 | Illegal Content Risk Assessment |
| UKOSA-DC-02 | Illegal Content Safety Duties |
| UKOSA-DC-03 | Children's Risk Assessment |
| UKOSA-DC-04 | Children's Safety Duties |
| UKOSA-DC-05 | User Empowerment Duties |
| UKOSA-DC-06 | Content Reporting Mechanisms |
Part 4 — Transparency Reporting
Annual transparency reporting and information disclosure requirements
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| UKOSA-TR-01 | Annual Transparency Reports |
| UKOSA-TR-02 | Content Moderation Information |
| UKOSA-TR-03 | Algorithmic Transparency |
Part 5 — Ofcom Powers
Ofcom's regulatory powers, codes of practice, and enforcement
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| UKOSA-REG-01 | Codes of Practice |
| UKOSA-REG-02 | Information Gathering Powers |
| UKOSA-REG-03 | Enforcement Notices |
| UKOSA-REG-04 | Financial Penalties |
| UKOSA-REG-05 | Business Disruption Measures |
Part 6-7 — Communications Offences and Special Provisions
Criminal offences, CSAM provisions, and special category content
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| UKOSA-OFF-01 | False Communications Offence |
| UKOSA-OFF-02 | Threatening Communications Offence |
| UKOSA-OFF-03 | Intimate Image Abuse Offence |
| UKOSA-OFF-04 | CSAM Reporting to NCA |
| UKOSA-OFF-05 | Age Verification Requirements |
Platform Duties
Content moderation and safety duties
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| UK-OSA-PD-01 | Illegal Content Duty |
| UK-OSA-PD-02 | Child Safety Duties |
| UK-OSA-PD-03 | Transparency and Reporting |
Maps to 352 other frameworks
Frequently Asked Questions
What is UK Online Safety Act 2023?
UK Online Safety Act 2023 is a compliance framework from United Kingdom (Ofcom) with 7 domains and 30 controls. The UK Online Safety Act 2023 establishes a comprehensive regulatory framework for online safety, placing duties on user-to-user services and search services to protect users from illegal content and, for larger platforms, content harmful to children. Ofcom is the regulator. Category 1 services (largest platforms with highest risk) face additional duties regarding content harmful to adults, user empowerment, and transparency. The Act covers illegal content duties, child safety duties, fraudulent advertising, and platform transparency. Significant penalties including up to 10% of global revenue. It is used by organisations to establish and maintain compliance with industry standards and regulatory requirements.
How many controls does UK Online Safety Act 2023 have?
UK Online Safety Act 2023 has 30 controls organised across 7 domains. The largest domains are Part 3 — Duties of Care (6 controls), Part 5 — Ofcom Powers (5 controls), Part 6-7 — Communications Offences and Special Provisions (5 controls). Each control defines specific requirements that organisations must implement to achieve compliance.
What frameworks does UK Online Safety Act 2023 map to?
UK Online Safety Act 2023 maps to 352 other compliance frameworks. The top mapping partners are Australia eSafety Commissioner — Online Safety Expectations for Industry (33% coverage), EU Digital Services Act (30% coverage), EAR — Export Administration Regulations (27% coverage). Use our comparison tool to explore control-level mappings between frameworks.
How do I get started with UK Online Safety Act 2023 compliance?
Start your UK Online Safety Act 2023 compliance journey by running a self-assessment on our platform to identify your current compliance posture. Our AI advisory can answer specific questions about UK Online Safety Act 2023 requirements, and cross-framework mapping helps you leverage existing controls from other frameworks you may already comply with. Create a free account to access all 30 controls and track your progress.
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