---
title: "UK Online Safety Act Compliance Hub: Scope, Illegal Harms, Child Safety, and Ofcom Readiness"
canonical_url: "https://www.sorena.io/artifacts/uk/online-safety-act"
source_url: "https://www.sorena.io/artifacts/uk/online-safety-act"
author: "Sorena AI"
description: "Official source UK Online Safety Act hub covering regulated user-to-user and search services, illegal content duties, child access and child risk assessments."
published_at: "2026-02-21"
updated_at: "2026-02-21"
keywords:
  - "UK Online Safety Act compliance"
  - "Ofcom online safety"
  - "illegal content risk assessment"
  - "children access assessment"
  - "children risk assessment"
  - "age assurance guidance"
  - "category 1 services"
  - "UK Online Safety penalties"
  - "illegal content duties"
  - "children's safety duties"
  - "age assurance"
  - "risk assessments"
---
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# UK Online Safety Act Compliance Hub: Scope, Illegal Harms, Child Safety, and Ofcom Readiness

Official source UK Online Safety Act hub covering regulated user-to-user and search services, illegal content duties, child access and child risk assessments.

![UK Online Safety Act compliance hub preview](https://cdn.sorena.io/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto/cheatsheets/prod/sorena-ai-uk-online-safety-timeline-small.jpg?v=cheatsheets%2Fprod)

*UK Online Safety Act* *Compliance Hub*

## UK Online Safety Act Scope, Duties, and Implementation

Work through the UK Online Safety Act sequence: service scope, illegal content duties, child access and risk assessments, age assurance, and Ofcom enforcement exposure.

Practical guidance to plan with; validate your service scope, illegal content and child risk assessments, and Ofcom-ready evidence against your own requirements.

[Start with the UK Online Safety Act applicability test](/artifacts/uk/online-safety-act/applicability-test.md)

## What you can decide faster

- **Scope and service model**: Test regulated user-to-user, search, and provider pornography scenarios before you promise dates or controls.
- **Duty sequencing**: Separate illegal content, child access, child safety, complaints, terms, transparency, and categorised service duties.
- **Ofcom readiness**: Build the evidence pack for risk assessments, control design, terms enforcement, and regulator responses.

By Sorena AI | Based on UK OSA, GOV.UK, Ofcom, and ICO materials | Updated March 2026

### Implementation focus

*UK OSA*

- **Scope and exclusions**: Start with sections 3 to 5, Schedule 1 exemptions, and the service-specific child-access test.
- **Live deadlines**: Track the 16 March 2025 illegal risk assessment deadline, the 16 April 2025 child access assessment deadline, and the 24 July 2025 child risk assessment deadline.
- **Evidence and enforcement**: Prepare for Ofcom information notices, complaints process scrutiny, terms enforcement checks, and penalties.

Use the timeline and guides to move into the specific duty pages and templates for execution.

| Value | Metric |
| --- | --- |
| 26 Oct 2023 | Act passed |
| 16 Mar 2025 | Illegal risk deadline |
| 24 Jul 2025 | Child risk deadline |
| Category 1, 2A, and 2B services | Categories |

**Key highlights:** Illegal harms | Child safety | Age assurance

## Primary sources

- [Online Safety Act: Protection of Children Codes of Practice - explanatory memorandum](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/online-safety-act-protection-of-children-codes-of-practice-explanatory-memorandum/online-safety-act-protection-of-children-codes-of-practice-explanatory-memorandum?ref=sorena.io) - Consolidated from OSA - This explanatory memorandum was prepared by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and laid before Parliament by Command of His Majesty. It concerns the Online Safety Act 2023 (the OSA) and the child safety codes of practice, explaining the purpose of the instrument, policy context, legislative and legal context, consultation, applicable guidance, impact assessment, and monitori
  - Quote: "This explanatory memorandum was prepared by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and laid before Parliament by Command of His Majesty"

## Topic Guides

- [How should teams decide whether UK Online Safety Act applies?](/artifacts/uk/online-safety-act/faq/regulated-service-scope.md): UK Online Safety Act guidance for Regulated Service Scope, with practical decisions, evidence, edge cases, and external source citations.
- [UK Online Safety Act Age Assurance Guide](/artifacts/uk/online-safety-act/age-assurance.md): UK Online Safety Act guidance for Age Assurance, with practical decisions, evidence, edge cases, and external source citations.
- [UK Online Safety Act Age Assurance Options Guide](/artifacts/uk/online-safety-act/age-assurance-options.md): UK Online Safety Act guidance for Age Assurance Options, with practical decisions, evidence, edge cases, and external source citations.
- [UK Online Safety Act Age Assurance Selection Workflow Guide](/artifacts/uk/online-safety-act/age-assurance-selection-workflow.md): UK Online Safety Act guidance for Age Assurance Selection Workflow, with practical decisions, evidence, edge cases, and external source citations.
- [UK Online Safety Act Applicability Test Guide](/artifacts/uk/online-safety-act/applicability-test.md): Practical guidance for the UK Online Safety Act applicability test, with practical decisions, evidence, edge cases, and external source citations.
- [UK Online Safety Act Categorisation Guide](/artifacts/uk/online-safety-act/categorisation.md): UK Online Safety Act guidance for Categorisation, with practical decisions, evidence, edge cases, and external source citations.
- [UK Online Safety Act Checklist](/artifacts/uk/online-safety-act/checklist.md): Practical guidance for the UK Online Safety Act checklist, with practical decisions, evidence, edge cases, and external source citations.
- [UK Online Safety Act Children's Access Assessment Guide](/artifacts/uk/online-safety-act/children-s-access-assessment.md): UK Online Safety Act guidance for Children's Access Assessment, with practical decisions, evidence, edge cases, and external source citations.
- [UK Online Safety Act Children's Safety Duties Guide](/artifacts/uk/online-safety-act/children-safety-duties.md): UK Online Safety Act guidance for Children's Safety Duties, with practical decisions, evidence, edge cases, and external source citations.
- [UK Online Safety Act Complaint and Appeal Handling Workflow Guide](/artifacts/uk/online-safety-act/complaint-and-appeal-handling-workflow.md): UK Online Safety Act guidance for Complaint and Appeal Handling Workflow, with practical decisions, evidence, edge cases, and external source citations.
- [UK Online Safety Act Compliance Guide](/artifacts/uk/online-safety-act/compliance.md): Practical guidance for the UK Online Safety Act compliance, with practical decisions, evidence, edge cases, and external source citations.
- [UK Online Safety Act Content Moderation and Appeals Guide](/artifacts/uk/online-safety-act/content-moderation-and-appeals.md): UK Online Safety Act guidance for Content Moderation and Appeals, with practical decisions, evidence, edge cases, and external source citations.
- [UK Online Safety Act Deadlines and Compliance Calendar Guide](/artifacts/uk/online-safety-act/deadlines-and-compliance-calendar.md): UK Online Safety Act guidance for Deadlines and Compliance Calendar, with practical decisions, evidence, edge cases, and external source citations.
- [UK Online Safety Act Enforcement and Penalties Guide](/artifacts/uk/online-safety-act/enforcement-and-penalties.md): UK Online Safety Act guidance for Enforcement and Penalties, with practical decisions, evidence, edge cases, and external source citations.
- [UK Online Safety Act FAQ](/artifacts/uk/online-safety-act/faq.md): Practical guidance for the UK Online Safety Act FAQ, with practical decisions, evidence, edge cases, and external source citations.
- [UK Online Safety Act ICO Overlap Guide](/artifacts/uk/online-safety-act/ico-overlap.md): UK Online Safety Act guidance for ICO Overlap, with practical decisions, evidence, edge cases, and external source citations.
- [UK Online Safety Act Illegal Content Duties Explained Guide](/artifacts/uk/online-safety-act/illegal-content-duties-explained.md): UK Online Safety Act guidance for Illegal Content Duties Explained, with practical decisions, evidence, edge cases, and external source citations.
- [UK Online Safety Act Illegal Content Risk Assessment Guide](/artifacts/uk/online-safety-act/illegal-content-risk-assessment.md): UK Online Safety Act guidance for Illegal Content Risk Assessment, with practical decisions, evidence, edge cases, and external source citations.
- [UK Online Safety Act Moderation and Appeals Guide](/artifacts/uk/online-safety-act/moderation-and-appeals.md): UK Online Safety Act guidance for Moderation and Appeals, with practical decisions, evidence, edge cases, and external source citations.
- [UK Online Safety Act Ofcom Enforcement Guide](/artifacts/uk/online-safety-act/ofcom-enforcement.md): UK Online Safety Act guidance for Ofcom Enforcement, with practical decisions, evidence, edge cases, and external source citations.
- [UK Online Safety Act Ofcom enforcement: penalty tiers, investigations, and senior manager liability](/artifacts/uk/online-safety-act/faq/ofcom-enforcement.md): UK Online Safety Act guidance for Ofcom Enforcement, with practical decisions, evidence, edge cases, and external source citations.
- [UK Online Safety Act Online Safety Risk Assessment Template Guide](/artifacts/uk/online-safety-act/online-safety-risk-assessment-template.md): UK Online Safety Act guidance for Online Safety Risk Assessment Template, with practical decisions, evidence, edge cases, and external source citations.
- [UK Online Safety Act penalties and fines Guide](/artifacts/uk/online-safety-act/penalties-and-fines.md): UK Online Safety Act guidance for penalties and fines, with practical decisions, evidence, edge cases, and external source citations.
- [UK Online Safety Act Regulated Service Scope Guide](/artifacts/uk/online-safety-act/regulated-service-scope.md): UK Online Safety Act guidance for Regulated Service Scope, with practical decisions, evidence, edge cases, and external source citations.
- [UK Online Safety Act Requirements Guide](/artifacts/uk/online-safety-act/requirements.md): Practical guidance for the UK Online Safety Act requirements, with practical decisions, evidence, edge cases, and external source citations.
- [UK Online Safety Act Risk Assessment Workflow Guide](/artifacts/uk/online-safety-act/risk-assessment-workflow.md): UK Online Safety Act guidance for Risk Assessment Workflow, with practical decisions, evidence, edge cases, and external source citations.
- [UK Online Safety Act Risk Assessments Playbook Guide](/artifacts/uk/online-safety-act/risk-assessments-playbook.md): UK Online Safety Act guidance for Risk Assessments Playbook, with practical decisions, evidence, edge cases, and external source citations.
- [UK Online Safety Act Senior Manager Liability Guide](/artifacts/uk/online-safety-act/senior-manager-liability.md): UK Online Safety Act guidance for Senior Manager Liability, with practical decisions, evidence, edge cases, and external source citations.
- [UK Online Safety Act Service Classification Workflow Guide](/artifacts/uk/online-safety-act/service-classification-workflow.md): UK Online Safety Act guidance for Service Classification Workflow, with practical decisions, evidence, edge cases, and external source citations.
- [UK Online Safety Act Service Scope and Categorization Guide](/artifacts/uk/online-safety-act/service-scope-and-categorization.md): UK Online Safety Act guidance for Service Scope and Categorization, with practical decisions, evidence, edge cases, and external source citations.
- [UK Online Safety Act Transparency Reporting Guide](/artifacts/uk/online-safety-act/transparency-reporting.md): UK Online Safety Act guidance for Transparency Reporting, with practical decisions, evidence, edge cases, and external source citations.
- [UK Online Safety Act User-to-user and Search Services Guide](/artifacts/uk/online-safety-act/user-to-user-and-search-services.md): UK Online Safety Act guidance for User-to-user and Search Services, with practical decisions, evidence, edge cases, and external source citations.
- [UK Online Safety Act vs Dsa Guide](/artifacts/uk/online-safety-act/online-safety-act-vs-dsa.md): UK Online Safety Act guidance for Online Safety Act vs Dsa, with practical decisions, evidence, edge cases, and external source citations.
- [What should teams do about Age Assurance under the UK Online Safety Act?](/artifacts/uk/online-safety-act/faq/age-assurance.md): UK Online Safety Act guidance for Age Assurance, with practical decisions, evidence, edge cases, and external source citations.
- [What should teams do about Categorisation under the UK Online Safety Act?](/artifacts/uk/online-safety-act/faq/categorisation.md): UK Online Safety Act guidance for Categorisation, with practical decisions, evidence, edge cases, and external source citations.
- [What should teams do about Children's Access Assessment under the UK Online Safety Act?](/artifacts/uk/online-safety-act/faq/children-s-access-assessment.md): UK Online Safety Act guidance for Children's Access Assessment, with practical decisions, evidence, edge cases, and external source citations.
- [What should teams do about Ico Overlap under the UK Online Safety Act?](/artifacts/uk/online-safety-act/faq/ico-overlap.md): UK Online Safety Act guidance for Ico Overlap, with practical decisions, evidence, edge cases, and external source citations.
- [What should teams do about Illegal Content Risk Assessment under the UK Online Safety Act?](/artifacts/uk/online-safety-act/faq/illegal-content-risk-assessment.md): UK Online Safety Act guidance for Illegal Content Risk Assessment, with practical decisions, evidence, edge cases, and external source citations.
- [What should teams do about Moderation and Appeals under the UK Online Safety Act?](/artifacts/uk/online-safety-act/faq/moderation-and-appeals.md): UK Online Safety Act guidance for Moderation and Appeals, with practical decisions, evidence, edge cases, and external source citations.
- [What should teams do about Senior Manager Liability under the UK Online Safety Act?](/artifacts/uk/online-safety-act/faq/senior-manager-liability.md): UK Online Safety Act guidance for Senior Manager Liability, with practical decisions, evidence, edge cases, and external source citations.
- [What should teams do about Transparency Reporting under the UK Online Safety Act?](/artifacts/uk/online-safety-act/faq/transparency-reporting.md): UK Online Safety Act guidance for Transparency Reporting, with practical decisions, evidence, edge cases, and external source citations.
- [What should teams do about User-to-user and Search Services under the UK Online Safety Act?](/artifacts/uk/online-safety-act/faq/user-to-user-and-search-services.md): UK Online Safety Act guidance for User-to-user and Search Services, with practical decisions, evidence, edge cases, and external source citations.

## Key dates for UK OSA implementation

*Online Safety Timeline*

Track milestones that shape duties, codes, and operational readiness so legal, policy, trust and safety, and engineering teams can execute in sync.

*Next step*

## Turn UK Online Safety Act Scope, Duties, and Implementation into an operational assessment workflow

UK Online Safety Act Scope, Duties, and Implementation should be the shared entry point for your team. Route execution into Assessment Autopilot for live work and into Research Copilot when the artifact needs deeper research, evidence governance, or supporting analysis.

- Start from UK Online Safety Act Scope, Duties, and Implementation and route the work by entity, product, team, or control owner.
- Use Assessment Autopilot to turn the guidance into owned tasks, evidence requests, and review checkpoints.
- Use Research Copilot to answer scope, timing, and interpretation questions with cited outputs.
- Move from artifact reading to accountable execution without rebuilding the guidance in separate files.

- [Open Assessment Autopilot](/solutions/assessment.md): Turn the guidance into owned tasks, evidence requests, and review checkpoints for UK Online Safety Act Scope, Duties, and Implementation.
- [Open Research Copilot](/solutions/research-copilot.md): Answer scope, timing, and interpretation questions with cited outputs from the same artifact.
- [Talk through UK Online Safety Act Scope, Duties, and Implementation](/contact.md): Review your current process, evidence model, and next implementation steps.

## Compliance Timeline

| Date | Event | Category | Reference |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2022-11-25 | Ofcom and ICO joint statement on online safety and data protection | Guidance & Codes | [Source](https://ico.org.uk/media2/0k5kvl5u/online-safety-and-data-protection-a-joint-statement-by-ofcom-and-the-ico.pdf?ref=sorena.io) |
| 2023-10-26 | Online Safety Act 2023 receives Royal Assent | Legislation | [Source](https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/online-safety-act?ref=sorena.io) |
| 2023-11-22 | First Online Safety Act commencement provisions take effect | Implementation | [Source](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2023/1242/contents/made?ref=sorena.io) |
| 2024-01-10 | Core Online Safety Act provisions commence | Implementation | [Source](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2023/1420/contents/made?ref=sorena.io) |
| 2024-01-31 | Communications offences provisions commence | Enforcement | [Source](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2024/31/contents/made?ref=sorena.io) |
| 2024-04-01 | Further Ofcom enforcement-related provisions commence | Implementation | [Source](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2023/1420/contents/made?ref=sorena.io) |
| 2024-12-17 | Illegal Content Codes of Practice memorandum published | Guidance & Codes | [Source](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/online-safety-act-illegal-content-codes-of-practice-2024-explanatory-memorandum/online-safety-act-illegal-content-codes-of-practice-2024-explanatory-memorandum?ref=sorena.io) |
| 2025-01-17 | Online Safety Act 2023 section 81 and related powers commence | Implementation | [Source](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2024/1333/contents/made?ref=sorena.io) |
| 2025-02-27 | Category threshold regulations come into force | Implementation | [Source](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2025/226/pdfs/uksi_20250226_en.pdf?ref=sorena.io) |
| 2025-03-17 | Online Safety Act 2023 illegal-content duties begin for regulated services | Enforcement | [Source](https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/online-safety-act?ref=sorena.io) |
| 2025-04-24 | Protection of Children Codes memorandum published | Children's Protection | [Source](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/online-safety-act-protection-of-children-codes-of-practice-explanatory-memorandum/online-safety-act-protection-of-children-codes-of-practice-explanatory-memorandum?ref=sorena.io) |
| 2025-06-19 | ICO age assurance guidance marked under review | Children's Protection | [Source](https://ico.org.uk/about-the-ico/what-we-do/information-commissioners-opinions/age-assurance-for-the-children-s-code/4-legislative-framework/?ref=sorena.io) |
| 2025-07-02 | Online Safety Act 2023 section 172 Statement of Strategic Priorities designated | Guidance & Codes | [Source](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/statement-of-strategic-priorities-for-online-safety/final-statement-of-strategic-priorities-for-online-safety?ref=sorena.io) |
| 2025-07-24 | Children's risk assessment deadline | Children's Protection | [Source](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/online-safety-act-explainer/online-safety-act-explainer?ref=sorena.io) |
| 2025-07-25 | Online Safety Act 2023 child safety duties begin for services likely accessed by children | Children's Protection | [Source](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2025/888/contents/made?ref=sorena.io) |
| 2025-10-27 | UK DSIT Secretary of State letter on Online Safety Act implementation and enforcement | Implementation | [Source](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/implementation-and-enforcement-of-the-online-safety-act-letter-from-dsit-secretary-of-state-to-ofcom/implementation-and-enforcement-of-the-online-safety-act-letter-from-dsit-secretary-of-state-to-ofcom?ref=sorena.io) |
| 2025-11-03 | Online Safety Act 2023 child sexual exploitation and abuse reporting provisions commence | Implementation | [Source](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2025/371/made?ref=sorena.io) |

**Event details:**

- **2022-11-25 - Ofcom and ICO joint statement on online safety and data protection**: Ofcom and the ICO published a joint statement dated 25 November 2022 on how the regulators would work together on online safety, data protection, age assurance, and compliance burdens for online services.
- **2023-10-26 - Online Safety Act 2023 receives Royal Assent**: The GOV.UK Online Safety Act collection states that the Online Safety Act received Royal Assent on 26 October 2023.
- **2023-11-22 - First Online Safety Act commencement provisions take effect**: Commencement No. 1 is the first commencement instrument for the Online Safety Act 2023; Commencement No. 5's earlier-orders table identifies 22 November 2023 as the commencement date for part of section 114 via S.I. 2023/1242.
- **2024-01-10 - Core Online Safety Act provisions commence**: Commencement No. 2 and the later commencement table in Commencement No. 5 identify 10 January 2024 as the commencement date for many core provisions, including duties architecture, codes, record-keeping, risk profile, information, enforcement, and Ofcom-function provisions.
- **2024-01-31 - Communications offences provisions commence**: Commencement No. 3 brings provisions into force on 31 January 2024; Commencement No. 5's earlier-orders table identifies sections 179 to 191 as commencing on that date via S.I. 2024/31.
- **2024-04-01 - Further Ofcom enforcement-related provisions commence**: Commencement No. 2 lists provisions coming into force on 1 April 2024; Commencement No. 5's earlier-orders table confirms section 101 and the remainder of section 102 commenced on that date via S.I. 2023/1420.
- **2024-12-17 - Illegal Content Codes of Practice memorandum published**: GOV.UK published the Online Safety Act Illegal Content Codes of Practice 2024 explanatory memorandum on 17 December 2024, covering Ofcom's first draft codes for illegal content duties.
- **2025-01-17 - Online Safety Act 2023 section 81 and related powers commence**: Commencement No. 4 brings section 81, specified parts of sections 100, 104, 136, and 138 into force on 17 January 2025; Commencement No. 5's earlier-orders table cross-checks the same date via S.I. 2024/1333.
- **2025-02-27 - Category threshold regulations come into force**: The final Category 1, Category 2A, and Category 2B Threshold Conditions Regulations 2025 were made on 26 February 2025 and came into force on 27 February 2025, setting the user and functionality thresholds for categorised services.
- **2025-03-17 - Online Safety Act 2023 illegal-content duties begin for regulated services**: The GOV.UK Online Safety Act collection states that as of 17 March 2025 in-scope user-to-user and search services have legal duties to protect users from illegal content online and that Ofcom is actively enforcing those duties.
- **2025-04-24 - Protection of Children Codes memorandum published**: GOV.UK published the Protection of Children Codes of Practice explanatory memorandum on 24 April 2025, covering Ofcom's child safety codes for user-to-user and search services.
- **2025-06-19 - ICO age assurance guidance marked under review**: The ICO's legislative-framework opinion for age assurance states that, because the Data (Use and Access) Act came into law on 19 June 2025, the guidance is under review and may change.
- **2025-07-02 - Online Safety Act 2023 section 172 Statement of Strategic Priorities designated**: The Final Statement of Strategic Priorities states that the Secretary of State designated it for Online Safety Act section 172 purposes on 2 July 2025.
- **2025-07-24 - Children's risk assessment deadline**: GOV.UK states that services likely to be accessed by children had until 24 July 2025 to complete children's risk assessments after Ofcom's child safety codes and guidance were laid in April 2025.
- **2025-07-25 - Online Safety Act 2023 child safety duties begin for services likely accessed by children**: The GOV.UK Online Safety Act collection states that as of 25 July 2025 in-scope services likely to be accessed by children have legal duties to protect children online; Commencement No. 6 also lists provisions coming into force on 25 July 2025.
- **2025-10-27 - UK DSIT Secretary of State letter on Online Safety Act implementation and enforcement**: GOV.UK published a 27 October 2025 letter from the DSIT Secretary of State to Ofcom covering implementation, enforcement, additional duties on categorised services, fees, and hate-related content.
- **2025-11-03 - Online Safety Act 2023 child sexual exploitation and abuse reporting provisions commence**: Commencement No. 5 brings specified CSEA reporting, related offences, information powers, enforcement powers, and transparency-report provisions into force on 3 November 2025 for regulated user-to-user services.


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