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United Kingdom Approves Online Safety Bill; Making Social Media Companies Responsible

By Peter Brown
December 01, 2023

"We have already seen too many innocent childhoods destroyed by this kind of content, and I am determined to put these vital protections for your children and loved ones into law as quickly as possible." — Hon. Michelle Donelan MP, U.K. Cabinet Minister

The harmful impact of social media on American children is well documented. Children are exposed to a variety of dangerous content, including bullying, violence, and hate speech. The response of virtually all U.S. politicians is handwringing and words of concern but little substantive action. Parliament in the United Kingdom as taken on an alternative approach, by attacking the problem at the source, which means making large social media responsible for protecting British children.

On Oct. 26, 2023, the United Kingdom approved the Online Safety Bill (the Bill). A British government news release stated that "the Online Safety Bill will make Britain the safest place in the world to be online." The Bill makes social media companies responsible to prevent and remove illegal or dangerous content, including posts relating to terrorism, child exploitation, hate crimes or fraud. These protections extend to both adults and children.

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