Finance
UK minister pushes regulator to speed up online safety enforcement
Published by Global Banking and Finance Review
Posted on November 12, 2025
2 min readLast updated: January 21, 2026
Global Banking and Finance Review
Company
Published by Global Banking and Finance Review
Posted on November 12, 2025
2 min readLast updated: January 21, 2026
UK Minister Liz Kendall urges Ofcom to speed up online safety enforcement, citing concerns over delays affecting child protection.
LONDON (Reuters) -British technology minister Liz Kendall urged the communications regulator Ofcom to speed up enforcement of tougher online safety rules designed to protect children from harm, saying on Wednesday that she was concerned about delays.
"I remain deeply concerned that delays in implementing duties, such as user empowerment, could hinder our work to protect women and girls from harmful content and protect users from antisemitism," Kendall said in a letter to Ofcom.
Ofcom has been phasing in the Online Safety Act, which imposes tough new requirements on platforms such as Facebook, YouTube, TikTok and X, as well as sites hosting pornography, to protect children and remove illegal content.
The watchdog said it planned to publish a register categorising which companies will be required to verify its users and be subject to other duties around July, a year later than its previous deadline.
An Ofcom spokesperson said the delay was caused by factors beyond its control, in particular a legal challenge that raised "complex issues".
In August, Wikipedia operator Wikimedia Foundation's case against parts of the law was dismissed by London's High Court, but the judge said the company could bring a further challenge if regulator Ofcom deemed Wikipedia to be a so-called Category 1 service - the highest tier under the new rules.
The law has been criticised by free speech activists and some U.S. companies who say its broad implementation has censors legal content, while supporters argue it forces companies to take greater responsibility over their platforms.
(Reporting by Muvija M, Editing by Paul Sandle)
Online safety refers to the practice of protecting individuals, especially children, from harmful content and interactions on the internet. It includes measures to prevent exposure to inappropriate materials and cyberbullying.
The Online Safety Act is legislation aimed at regulating online platforms to ensure they protect users, particularly children, from harmful content and illegal activities. It imposes duties on companies to monitor and manage user interactions.
Ofcom is the UK's communications regulator, responsible for overseeing broadcasting, telecommunications, and postal services. It ensures that companies comply with regulations and promotes fair competition in these sectors.
User empowerment in online safety involves providing users with tools and resources to control their online experiences, such as privacy settings and reporting mechanisms for harmful content or behavior.
Antisemitism is prejudice, discrimination, or hostility against Jewish people. It can manifest in various forms, including hate speech, violence, and the spread of harmful stereotypes.
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