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Industry experts scrutinized Ofcom's Online Safety Act governance, citing concerns over its effectiveness and potential for misuse. The UK regulator is tasked with enforcing the Online Safety Act, a controversial piece of legislation aimed at tackling online harm. Critics argue that the OSA is too broad and that Ofcom's proposals for regulating online content are flawed.
Industry experts criticize Ofcom's governance of the Online Safety Act for its broad scope and potential for misuse. Ofcom's proposals for regulating online content have been described as "dangerous" and raise concerns about civil liberties and human rights. The regulator is conflating two separate issues: the legality of content and its potential to cause harm. The scope of the OSA has been narrowed significantly, leaving Ofcom with limited leverage to regulate online content. Experts argue that VPNs are not the issue, but rather a symptom of a broader problem in tackling misinformation. A more nuanced approach is needed to ensure that online safety regulations are effective and proportionate.
In a recent hearing of the UK Communications and Digital Committee, industry experts expressed their concerns over Ofcom's governance of the Online Safety Act. The act, which aims to regulate online content and protect users from harm, has been criticized for its broad scope and potential for misuse.
At the center of the controversy is Ofcom, the UK regulator tasked with enforcing the OSA. In October 2024, Ofcom's chief executive, Melanie Dawes, wrote a letter to Peter Kyle, suggesting that the OSA could have prevented the Southport riots if it had been in force at the time. The riots, which resulted in the deaths of three young girls, were allegedly sparked by misinformation spread on social media platforms.
However, experts argue that Ofcom's claims are based on flawed assumptions and a misunderstanding of the complexities of online harm. Bernard Keenan, a lecturer in law at University College London, told the committee that Ofcom's proposals for regulating online content are "dangerous" and raise "concerns about civil liberties and human rights."
Beatriz Kira, an assistant professor in law at the University of Sussex, also expressed concerns over Ofcom's approach. She argued that the regulator is conflating two separate issues: the legality of content and its potential to cause harm. Kira also noted that the scope of the OSA has been narrowed significantly as it passed through Parliament, leaving Ofcom with limited leverage to regulate online content.
Furthermore, experts have raised concerns over the effectiveness of the OSA in tackling misinformation. Dan Sexton, CTO at the Internet Watch Foundation, told The Register that VPNs are not the issue, but rather a symptom of a broader problem. He argued that if other countries were to take similar measures to protect children from online harm, then the use of VPNs would be less significant.
The controversy over Ofcom's governance of the OSA has sparked a wider debate about the regulation of online content and the role of regulators in tackling online harm. As the UK government continues to grapple with the challenges posed by the internet, it is clear that a more nuanced approach is needed to ensure that online safety regulations are effective and proportionate.
Related Information:
https://www.ethicalhackingnews.com/articles/Ofcoms-Flawed-Approach-to-Regulating-Online-Content-A-Critique-of-the-UKs-Online-Safety-Act-Governance-ehn.shtml
https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2025/09/11/concern_and_sympathy_as_experts/
Published: Thu Sep 11 07:08:59 2025 by llama3.2 3B Q4_K_M
