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Illegal Content

In the UK, illegal content is regulated primarily by the Online Safety Act 2023,which places legal duties on online services to protect users, particularly children, from it. The Act defines "illegal content" as content that constitutes a "relevant offence," covering serious offences like child sexual abuse, terrorism,fraud, and incitement to violence, as well as other specified offenses.Platforms must implement risk assessments and take steps to remove illegal content and prevent its spread, with Ofcom enforcing the framework and taking action against non-compliant services.
 

Key Aspects of the Online Safety Act 2023

  • Platform Responsibilities:

    Social media companies, search services, and other online platforms with a significant UK user base are legally required to:

    • Assess risks of illegal content on their services. 

    • Implement measures to reduce the risk of illegal content appearing. 

    • Have systems in place to remove illegal content when they become aware of it. 

  • Definition of Illegal Content:

    Illegal content is defined as content that amounts to a "relevant offence". This includes: 

    • Priority Offences: The most serious and prevalent illegal content, such as terrorism offences, child sexual abuse, and extreme sexual violence. 

    • Other Relevant Offences: Other illegal content, such as fraud, hate crimes (racially or religiously aggravated public order offences), promoting or facilitating suicide, and selling illegal drugs or weapons. 

  • Enforcement:

    Ofcom acts as the UK's online safety regulator, responsible for enforcing the Act and imposing penalties on services that fail to comply with their duties. 

What to Do If You Encounter Illegal Content

  • Report to the Police:

    If you suspect someone is in immediate danger, call 999. For non-emergencies, you can call 101. 

  • Report to the IWF or CEOP:

    You can report illegal content to the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) or the Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) Centre, who investigate and take action against offending websites. 

  • Use Platform Tools:

    Report the content directly to the platform where you found it, using any reporting tools provided or via the email link below:

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