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

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 protections for minors, as platforms are required to ensure that, by default, children's profiles, locations, friends, and connections are not visible to other users and that non-connected accounts cannot send them direct messages. In addition, children should receive guidance on the risks of sharing personal information and should not appear in suggested lists of people users may wish to add to their network. 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.