United Kingdom: Office of Communications published updated Children's Access Assessments Guidance

On 24 April 2025, the Office of Communications (Ofcom) published the updated Children's Access Assessments Guidance for providers of user-to-user (U2U) and search services regulated under the Online Safety Act 2023. individuals under the age of 18. The guidance sets out the process for carrying out children's access assessments to determine whether a service is likely to be accessed by individuals under the age of 18. There are two stages to the assessment: First, determining whether children can normally access the service or part of it. Second, if access is possible, assessing whether the child user condition is met, either by identifying a significant number of child users or by establishing that the service is of a kind likely to attract them. Providers can only conclude that children cannot access a service if highly effective age verification measures are in place and if a significant number of children are attracted to the service. The guidance also outlines the requirements to keep written records of each assessment and its outcome. Providers are required to carry out reassessments at least every 12 months, or earlier in response to specific triggers, such as significant changes to the service, evidence of increased access by children or reduced effectiveness of age verification measures.