Online safety guidance if you own or manage an online platform
How safe platform design can protect your users from online harms and prepare your business or organisation for future legislation.
The government’s Online Harms White Paper defines online harms as user-generated content or behaviour that could cause significant physical or psychological harm to a person.
Online harms can be illegal, or they can be harmful but legal. Examples of online harms include (but are not restricted to):
- child sexual exploitation and abuse
- terrorist use of the internet
- hate crime
- harassment, cyberbullying and online abuse
Online harms in this context refers to harm experienced by users. It does not include harm to organisations or businesses, or harms to people as a result of a data protection or cyber security breach.
New online safety legislation is coming which will aim to reduce online harms. If you own or manage an online platform which enables the upload or sharing of user generated content, you will have a legal duty to protect users against illegal content and to put in place measures to protect children. This guidance is distinct and separate from the forthcoming regulatory requirements that will be introduced through the Online Safety Bill.
Getting started
Learn about online harms, how to report them, and your responsibilities if you own or manage an online platform.
Preparing your business or organisation
Practical steps to improve the safety of your online platform and prepare in advance of new online safety legislation.
Best practice design guides
General and feature specific guidance for designing safer online platforms.