United Kingdom: Office of Communications closes consultation on Draft Updated Register of Risks under Online Safety Act 2023

On 24 April 2026, the Office of Communications (Ofcom) closes the consultation on the Draft Updated Register of Risks (relevant extracts). The Register of Risks provides a sector-wide assessment of the causes and impacts of illegal online harms across regulated user-to-user and search services. It covers priority and non-priority offences grouped into kinds of illegal harm defined under the Online Safety Act. The consultation reflects updates following the introduction of new priority offences relating to encouraging or assisting serious self-harm and cyberflashing. The consultation publishes extracts covering Chapter 15 on suicide and self-harm, Chapter 18 on cyberflashing, and Chapter 19 on search services. The Register of Risks identifies risk factors, defined as characteristics of online services and users associated with an increased likelihood of encountering illegal content. The Register of Risks informs the Risk Profiles within the Risk Assessment Guidance and supports service providers in conducting illegal content risk assessments. The Office of Communications is required under the Online Safety Act to publish and maintain both the Register of Risks and the Risk Profiles.