United Kingdom: Office of Communications closes consultation on use and effectiveness of age assurance under Online Safety Act

On 1 December 2025, the Office of Communications (Ofcom) closes the consultation on its statutory report on the use and effectiveness of age assurance under the Online Safety Act. The consultation gathers information on the deployment of age assurance by regulated services to comply with section 12 and Part 5 duties to prevent children from encountering primary priority content and protect them from other harmful content. Ofcom requested evidence concerning technical accuracy, proportionality, user experience, and alignment with data protection requirements, including possible barriers such as cost, privacy, and interoperability constraints. Inputs were also requested on the governance of complaint mechanisms and enforcement through default design. Responses will inform Ofcom’s statutory report due by July 2026, assessing whether existing age assurance measures effectively mitigate online harms to children.