Age Restrictions in the Online Safety Act
04/08/25
The Online Safety Act (OSA) 2023 has seen recent changes aimed at protecting individuals from illegal or age-inappropriate content online.
Prominent in these changes are rules preventing children from accessing primary priority content online, which includes:
- Pornography,
- Content that encourages, promotes, or provides instructions for either:
o Self-harm,
o Eating disorders, or
o Suicide
Further, the changes involve providing age-appropriate access to the following content, termed in OSA 2023 as priority content:
- Bullying
- Abusive or harmful content
- Content which depicts or encourages serious violence or injury
- Content which encourages dangerous stunts and challenges; and
- Content which encourages the ingestion, inhalation or exposure to harmful substances
Criticism of the recent changes has been significant, with internet users seeing their access restricted to support pages for alcohol addiction, advice and support groups for sexual abuse survivors, and even political content such as parliamentary speeches and legislative amendments.
Failure to meet obligations can lead to severe punishments for online platforms, such as fines of up to 10% of global revenue. Ofcom has recently launched investigations into four companies, which collectively run over 30 pornography sites, to determine if these sites are using the required age-verification checks. If compliance failures are identified, Ofcom can require platforms to implement the required age-verification systems.
The new changes could see companies and online platforms completely restrict any content potentially in breach of the law, regardless of users’ verifying their age.
If you or someone you know needs guidance around the new changes to OSA 2023, Roe Lawyers has the expertise and experience to help you with your case. Please contact us and we will get in touch as soon as possible.