United Kingdom: Adopted Technology Secretary’s strategic priorities for online safety under the Online Safety Act

On 20 November 2024, the Technology Secretary of the United Kingdom adopted online safety priorities for Ofcom under the Online Safety Act. The priorities include focusing on embedding safety into digital platforms from the outset, increasing transparency from tech companies, and addressing risks posed by AI-generated content. Furthermore, the strategic focus on safety by design requires protections to be implemented already in the development stage to prevent harm, particularly emphasising age assurance technologies to safeguard children. Further, the Technology Secretary stresses the importance of transparency and accountability, requiring platforms to clarify what content is permitted, apply rules consistently, and disclose data on online harms.