What is the Online Safety Act and why have riots reopened debates about it?

Amid concerns that the recent riots in the UK were fuelled by misinformation spread on social media, some have questioned whether the Online Safety Act passed last year needs to be revisited; however, Associate Professor Dr Olivia Brown and Postdoctoral Researcher Dr Alicia Cork of the University of Bath argue that with parts of the Act not due to come into effect until late 2024, the effectiveness of the legislation won’t be fully understood until it has been tested in another situation like the recent riots.

Recent rioting and unrest in the UK has led to calls for the Online Safety Act to be revisited. Mayor Sadiq Khan has called it “not fit for purpose”, and Cabinet Office Minister Nick Thomas Symonds suggested that the Government could change the law, which was passed under the previous government and includes a raft of measures relevant to the recent riots, including powers to fine social media companies.

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The frustration in the wake of the riots has arisen from the fact that the parts of the Act are not due to come into effect until late 2024… This raises questions as to what might have been different had they already been in place.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer has been less forthcoming about the Act and has said only that he would “look more broadly at social media after this disorder”. His spokesperson suggested the Act was not under active review.

In practical terms, social media played a key role in the widespread co-ordination of events in locations across the country. Online platforms have also served as a vehicle through which misinformation and hateful rhetoric has spread.

Lees verder via policinginsight.com

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