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The UK's Online Safety Act has been met with criticism from Children's Commissioner Dame Rachel de Souza, who argues that it has "made absolutely no difference" in protecting children from online harms. The legislation's focus on moderating harmful content rather than addressing potentially harmful platform design features has been a major concern, and de Souza calls for stronger regulations and more effective enforcement to protect children's online safety.
Children's Commissioner Dame Rachel de Souza expresses disappointment with the UK's Online Safety Act (OSA) due to its lack of impact on accessing harmful content online. The OSA's focus on moderating harmful content rather than addressing platform design features is a major concern for de Souza. De Souza argues that the legislation has been too restrictive and has not kept pace with the evolving online landscape. The Children's Commissioner believes that access to safety risk assessments is essential in evaluating the efficacy of the OSA. De Souza's comments spark a broader conversation about the need for stronger regulations and more effective enforcement of online safety laws.
The UK's Online Safety Act (OSA), enacted in an effort to protect children from online harms, has been met with skepticism by some of its intended beneficiaries. Children's Commissioner Dame Rachel de Souza has expressed her disappointment with the Act's lack of impact on their ability to access harmful content online, stating that it "has made absolutely no difference." This criticism comes at a time when the US has seen significant changes in social media platforms' approach to child safety following legal pressure.
According to de Souza, the legislation's focus on moderating harmful content rather than addressing potentially harmful platform design features has been a major concern. Despite the OSA's introduction of measures to address these issues, de Souza argues that the legislation has been too restrictive and has not kept pace with the evolving online landscape. She emphasizes the need for the regulator, Ofcom, to be more proactive in addressing online safety issues and to impose stricter penalties on companies that fail to comply with the Act.
The Children's Commissioner's criticism of the OSA is not limited to its effectiveness in addressing online safety issues. She also expressed frustration with Ofcom's failure to disclose safety risk assessments submitted by technology companies, citing a statutory gateway that restricts the regulator's ability to share such information. De Souza believes that access to these risk assessments is essential in evaluating the efficacy of the OSA and holds Ofcom accountable for not providing this information.
De Souza's comments have sparked a broader conversation about the need for stronger regulations and more effective enforcement of online safety laws. The OSA's failure to address concerns around platform design features and addictive social media practices has led some to question the legislation's relevance and effectiveness. As the online landscape continues to evolve, it is essential that regulatory bodies and lawmakers prioritize the development of comprehensive and effective online safety measures.
The Children's Commissioner's criticism of the OSA serves as a reminder that the online safety landscape is complex and multifaceted. While the legislation has made some efforts to address online safety issues, more work is needed to ensure that children are protected from online harms. By prioritizing transparency, accountability, and effective enforcement, regulatory bodies and lawmakers can work towards creating a safer online environment for all.
Related Information:
https://www.ethicalhackingnews.com/articles/UKs-Online-Safety-Act-A-Critical-Evaluation-of-its-Impact-on-Childrens-Online-Safety-ehn.shtml
https://www.theregister.com/security/2026/09/03/uks-online-safety-act-has-made-absolutely-no-difference-kids-say/5293893
https://securityshelf.com/2026/09/03/uks-online-safety-act-has-made-absolutely-no-difference-kids-say/
Published: Thu Sep 3 05:55:40 2026 by llama3.2 3B Q4_K_M
