The Online Safety Act 2023 (the Act) received Royal Assent on Thursday the 26 October 2023. The Act has been put into place to help make the internet a safer place for both adults and children.

The Act takes a zero-tolerance approach to create a safer online experience, with increased protections against harmful content and harassment. It also encourages responsible online behaviour and helps empower users to report issues they encounter through legal recourse. The Act also introduced several new criminal offences into legislation, including:

• Spreading false information with intent to cause harm and they have no reasonable excuse for sending the message
• Instances where a person who sends a message conveying a threat of death, serious injury, rape, assault by penetration, or serious financial loss
• Encouraging or assisting the serious self-harm of another person
• Sending and threatening to share photograph or film of genitals (sometimes referred to as the “cyberflashing” offence) or intimate photographs without consent. The new offence is inserted as section 66A of the Sexual Offences Act 2003

Over the years, Safer Internet Day, taking place on Tuesday 6 February, has become a landmark event in the online safety calendar, asking us all to come “together for a better internet”.

 From cyberbullying to social networking and digital identity, each year Safer Internet Day aims to raise awareness of emerging online issues and current concerns.

 Speaking out about the Online Safety Act, a spokesperson for UK Safer Internet Centre commented: “The Act will ensure that social media companies take responsibility and act upon detrimental content seen on their platforms, especially by children. Adults will also be empowered with more choices over what they see online, creating a less harmful space for everyone. New laws coming to fruition additionally support those affected by intimate image abuse – a development that will be seen as a positive one by those who work within the field for UKSIC and relative partners.”

 So how will the Online Safety Act help to create a safer internet?

1. Improved age verification for age sensitive content, including pornography and social media
2. Further legislations for social media platforms requiring them to publish risk assessments, so that the risks and dangers posed to children on the platform are transparent 
3. Placing duty on social media platforms to action and prevent harmful, illegal or sensitive content being shared, and making sure it is quickly removed. This includes images and videos that relate to child sexual exploitation and abuse
4. The introduction of several new criminal acts as noted above
5. Empowering users with ways to report any problems online if they do arise 
6. Introducing punishment and sanctions for social media platforms that do not follow the Online Safety Act 

How can Switalskis help?

At Switalskis we have extensive experience in dealing with the complexities of grooming gang cases.

Connecting with others online can be an easy way to make new friends and socialise, however it’s not always easy to tell if someone is being disingenuous in their intentions or with their identity.

Online grooming doesn’t just happen on social media, it can also happen on dating sites, online games and group chat apps. The abuse carried out can take multiple forms including sexual exploitation, emotional manipulation and financial exploitation.

Our team, led by David Greenwood, has extensive experience in dealing with the complexities of grooming gang cases. We'll explain your legal options in simple, straightforward language, so you can make informed decisions about how to proceed. Gathering evidence in grooming gang cases can be particularly challenging. We'll guide you through this important step, helping you collect all the documents, digital records and witness statements you need to build a robust case.

To speak to one of our specialist abuse solicitors about your situation in confidence, call us on 0800 1380 458, or email help@switalskis.com