ONLINE SAFETY ACT (OSA) OFCOM TIMELINE These dates are predominantly taken from OFCOM’s Roadmap to Regulation as updated in October 2023. They are estimates and therefore subject to change. Further, OFCOM notes that it is not a comprehensive guide to everything it plans to produce over the first three years of the OSA regime. OFCOM notes in the October 23 Roadmap that, with a general election coming up, there may be delays which may, in the event of a Labour victory, even substantially change what compliance looks like. 2019 Government published the Online Harms White Paper. Government Pre-implementation May 2021 A first draft of the OSA was introduced as a Bill. Government Pre-implementation 11 July 2023 OFCOM published a call for evidence on categorising regulated services under new Online Safety laws. OFCOM Pre-implementation 9 November 2023 The first draft Codes of Practice, with the subject matter of illegal harms, were published by OFCOM, triggering a consultation period. OFCOM Phase 1 – Illegal Content 23 February 2024 This is the deadline for responses to the consultation triggered by the publication of the draft code of practice on illegal harms. OFCOM Phase 1 – Illegal Content Spring 2024 OFCOM will publish further consultations relating to the child safety duties including; draft guidance on children’s access requirements, children’s risk assessments, and recommended measures to protect children online. OFCOM Phase 2 – Child Safety, pornography, and protecting women and girls Spring 2024 OFCOM will publish draft guidance on their approach to transparency reporting OFCOM Phase 3 - Additional duties for categorised services November 2024 OFCOM will consider stakeholder responses and publish a statement setting out its decisions together with final versions of the services risk assessment guidance, codes of practice and related guidance on Illegal Harms. Following publication of its statement, in-scope services will have three months to carry out their illegal content risk assessments. OFCOM Phase 1 – Illegal Content End of 2024/ Early 2025 OFCOM will submit its codes of practice on illegal harms to the Secretary of State for approval. Following a 40-day approval period, the Codes will come into force 21 days later. OFCOM can the begin investigations and enforcement. OFCOM Phase 1 – Illegal Content Early 2025 OFCOM will publish final guidance on chlidren’s access statements. Regulated services will have three months to carry out children’s access assessments following publication. OFCOM Phase 2 – Child Safety, pornography, and protecting women and girls Spring 2025 OFCOM will submit the children’s codes of practice to the Secretary of State. OFCOM Phase 2 – Child Safety, pornography, and protecting women and girls 2026/2027 OFCOM expect to implement the funding regime for the Online Safety Act in 2026/2027. This will be via fees payable to OFCOM by providers of regulated services whose qualifying worldwide revenue meets or exceeds specified thresholds. OFCOM will consult on the regime which will be implemented by secondary legislation. OFCOM All phases February 2020 Government announced that it will appoint OFCOM as the regulator for online safety. Government Pre-implementation March 2023 OFCOM set out its planned approach to risk assessments under the Online Safety Bill. OFCOM Pre-implementation 26 October 2023 The Bill achieved Royal Assent becoming the Online Safety Act. Government Pre-implementation December 2023 OFCOM plan to publish a consultation on draft guidance for services that host pornographic content and on the use of age assurance. OFCOM Phase 2 – Child Safety, pornography, and protecting women and girls Early 2024 OFCOM will consult the extent of its powers to require services to use or develop accredited technology to deal with CSEA/terrorism content. These consultations will result in OFCOM’s recommendation to the Secretary of State on minimum standards of accuracy for accredited technologies, and guidance as to how it will use its powers. OFCOM Phase 1 – Illegal Content Spring 2024 OFCOM will publish advice to the Secretary of State regarding categorisation of services with enhanced duties under the OSA. OFCOM Phase 3 - Additional duties for categorised services Summer 2024 OFCOM expect the government to publish the relevant secondary legislation to allow for the categorisation of services to take place. This secondary legislation will include details as to the date on which the VSP regulation will be repealed. Government Phase 3 - Additional duties for categorised services End of 2024 Subject to the introduction of secondary legislation setting the thresholds for categorisation, OFCOM expect to publish a register of categorised services by the end of 2024. Government/OFCOM Phase 3 - Additional duties for categorised services Early 2025 OFCOM will publish a draft code of practice on fraudulent advertising and transparency notices. OFCOM Phase 3 - Additional duties for categorised services Spring 2025 OFCOM will publish draft guidance on protecting women and girls. OFCOM Phase 2 – Child Safety, pornography, and protecting women and girls End of 2025 OFCOM expect final codes and guidance to be published for the entirety of the bill. OFCOM All phases
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