United Kingdom: Published Ofcom illegal content Codes of Practice for user-to-user services implementing Online Safety Act 2023 including content moderation provisions

On 16 December 2024, the Office of Communications (Ofcom) published the illegal content Codes of Practice for user-to-user services implementing the Online Safety Act 2023. Subject to the codes completing the Parliamentary process, social media websites and apps will need to implement these codes from 17 March 2025. These codes introduce specific content moderation obligations for social media platforms. These include removing illegal content of all types and appropriately resourcing and training content moderation teams. Platforms must also provide reporting and complaints functions that users can easily find and use. Furthermore, platforms are required to test and refine their algorithms to reduce the spread of illegal content and implement automated hash matching to detect child sexual abuse material (CASM). They must also take down abusive materials, including intimate image abuse material ("revenge porn"), sexual exploitative material, and cyberflashing. The codes, presented to Parliament by the Secretary of State, will come into force 21 calendar days after their publication if Parliament does not object.