Tech companies will be legally required to prevent content involving self-harm from appearing on their platforms – rather than responding and removing it – in a planned amendment to the UK’s controversial Online Safety Act.
The move will make self-harm content a “priority offence” under the Act – a classification for illegal content that requires platform providers to take proactive measures to prevent its publication.
In her first outing as newly appointed science and technology minister, Liz Kendall said the government is determined to keep people safe online.
“Vile content that promotes self-harm continues to be pushed on social media and can mean potentially heart-wrenching consequences for families across the country,” she said.
“Our enhanced protections will make clear to social media companies that taking immediate steps to keep users safe from toxic material that could be the difference between life and death is not an option, but the law.”
While social media firms are already obliged to protect children by removing images of self-harm, the new amendment goes further. By changing the status of the content, the government aims to make platforms seek out and eliminate such content before it can reach users.
The move was backed by the Samaritans, a charity that supports people in emotional distress at risk of suicide. Chief executive Julie Bentley said:
“While the internet can be a source of support for people who are struggling, damaging suicide and self-harm content can cost people their lives. It’s therefore vital that government continues to take opportunities to strengthen the Act and it’s over to Ofcom now to use their powers to hold platforms to account so we can save more lives lost to suicide.”
However, the Online Safety Act has proved controversial in the UK and elsewhere. It received Royal Ascent in October 2023 amid concerns over privacy. Private messaging platform Signal said at the time that it threatened to undermine the privacy promises and the encryption on which it relies.
Illegal content and children’s safety aspects of the Act came into force in March and July this year.
Experts have voiced concerns that the Act may grant the government the power to censor online content.
Meanwhile, there are fears that it is being applied too widely. For example, blogs that allow user comments are subject to the same laws as social media giants. The law’s duties and responsibilities are causing concern among those running online communities for niche interests, such as cycling forum London Fixed Gear and Single Speed, for example.
The new regulations will come into effect three weeks after they are approved in both Houses of Parliament. ®