New online safety law in UK set to curb illegal content

With the new bill, regulators will be allowed to issue fines and block sites, making tech companies liable if they fail to remove said content, UK ministers said on Tuesday.

The aim of the bill is to determine accountability for illegal or potentially harmful content such as material promotion of terrorism or spreading disinformation about Covid-19.

Companies could be fined as much as 10% of their annual global sales if they breach regulations.

The bill will be introduced next year and will affect up to 3% of UK businesses. The rules will be administered by UK communications regulator Ofcom.

Details of the new law will be announced on Tuesday, Digital Secretary Oliver Dowden and Home Secretary Priti Patel said in an emailed statement.

“We will not allow child sexual abuse, terrorist material and other harmful content to fester on online platforms,” said Patel. “Tech companies must put public safety first or face the consequences.”

According to the statement, a group of tech companies will also put out their own category of additional requirement to publish transparency reports.