Designing safer online platforms and services: your responsibilities
Learn about your responsibilities if you own or manage an online platform or service.
You have a responsibility to make sure you do not expose your users to harm if you own or manage an online platform or service that:
- enables user generated content
- enables interaction between users
- allows users to search across multiple websites and databases
Examples of online platforms which might enable these functions include:
- websites
- apps
- gaming platforms
- search engines
New online safety legislation is coming which will aim to reduce online harms. This page will help you understand if your business or organisation is in scope of the forthcoming legislation.
7 step checklist to keep your business and users safe
Taking a safety by design approach
Learn about best practice design if your platform features:
Understanding the future online safety legislation
The Online Safety Bill was published in draft in May 2021. You may be in scope for the forthcoming legislation if you own or manage an online platform or service that:
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hosts user generated content such as images, videos and comments
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allows UK users to talk with other people online through messaging, comments and forums
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allows UK users to search a range of websites and databases - search engines that only allow searches of a single website will not be in scope
You already have a legal duty to protect users against illegal content. You must take action to remove illegal material when you become aware of it.
If your business or organisation is in scope, when the new legislation passes into law you will also be expected to:
- assess if your platform is likely to be accessed by children, and provide additional protections for children using it change or improve the way you report on user behaviour, including how you manage complaints
If you provide one of the largest services with high risk features you will also need to address content on your service that is legal but harmful to adults. This duty is not relevant for search engines.
Some types of content and services are out of scope of the new legislation. This includes news publisher content and services whose user generated content is limited to product and service reviews and ‘below the line’ comments.
This list is not exhaustive. A full list of exemptions can be found in the draft Online Safety Bill.
How online harms will be regulated
This guidance is distinct from the forthcoming regulatory requirements that will be introduced through the Online Safety Bill. The draft Online Safety Bill confers powers on Ofcom to oversee and enforce the new regulatory regime, and requires Ofcom to prepare codes of practice to assist providers in complying with their duties of care.
Ofcom’s approach to regulation will be proportionate. It will take into account an organisation’s size, services and resources as well as the risk of harm its features and functions pose to its users and to others.
The legislation is currently being drafted and is not yet law, which means you do not have to take action yet. But you may want to take steps now to prepare and keep users safe on your platform.
Part of Online safety guidance if you own or manage an online platform