Online Safety Act- The Requirements Unpacked

Regulation-Protection- Compliance

Leading experts discuss and illustrate the regulatory and protection requirements under the Online Safety Act 2023.

The TMT Law Institute at the Centre for Commercial Law Studies offers a five -day Executive Training Course, Monday-Friday, 5pm-9pm (including networking over drinks & light dinner/snack).

Description

Ofcom estimates that more than 100,000 online services will be within scope of the new rules. This number encompasses businesses of all sizes from micro- to medium to large businesses. The reach of the Online Safety Act goes beyond “the” big tech search engines and social media companies, and the regulation will impact diverse platforms, online services and apps.

It affects a range of different businesses and services, in addition to search engines and social media companies, including video-platforms, online forums, online gaming, e-commerce platforms, technology providers, news and media businesses, political apps & platforms, online gaming, dating apps, direct messaging apps, online meeting platforms and pornography providers.

Furthermore, the Act has extraterritorial reach to cover those that have links to the UK as defined in the Act and contains provisions requiring blocking of content or payment, thereby impacting access and payment services. It also raises questions about safety technologies and age-assurance technologies and their accreditation and use by platforms. Finally, it raises questions about the safety of interactions on encrypted platforms such as WhatsApp, as well as the safety of encryption itself.

Learning Objectives

This course will provide you with a structured analysis of the provisions of the Act and associated guidance, giving you a good working knowledge of Online Safety.

Ø You will understand compliance obligations and be able to apply them in different sectors.

Ø You will be able to critically assess the protection afforded and what this means for users and victims of abuse and crime.

Ø You will discuss the balance between freedom of speech and the safety duties and what this means for modern media.

Topics Covered

The Course covers an overview of online safety regulation, who is within scope, the new online safety duties in respect of content harmful to children and illegal content duties, including special measures against Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse Materials and Terrorism Content. It covers the secondary duties related to transparency, record-keeping and reporting. The Course will analyse the latest Ofcom Guidelines and Ofcom’s Enforcement Powers under the Act. Additionally, it analyses the requirements for content moderation and, the use of accredited and pro-active technology, as well as regulated entities’ obligations to protect freedom of speech and privacy. It looks at the duties to protect content of democratic importance, journalistic content, and news publisher content. Moreover, it covers of how adults’ safety is treated, and the issue of user-identification, for example on dating sites. Furthermore, sessions will be dedicated to the new obligations in respect of advertising scams and fraud prevention, the dissemination of disinformation, and the regulation of pornography and dating services. We examine the requirements for age assurance. Finally, we cover the new criminal offences in the Online Safety Act.

Mode of Delivery

The regulatory requirements are illustrated by examples and case-studies. The mode of delivery is a mixture of presentations by experts in the fields, panel & audience discussions, as well as interactive case-studies.

Who this Course is designed for

This course should be of interest to:

• social media, user-to-user platforms or search
• anyone providing messaging and online meeting services,
• developers of technology used for content moderation or age-assurance,
• the advertising industry,
• journalists, news and media organisations,
• influencers,
• children’s charities,
• those fighting disinformation online,
• police officers,
• lawyers advising victims of harassment, bullying and image-based sexual abuse, and assisting clients with reputation management.

We offer three scholarships for free attendance for charities. Minimum required number of participants is 15. Price for the course, including course materials: £1800 plus VAT (catering included).

Practical Information

The Course will take place at the TMT Law Institute @ the Centre for Commercial Law Studies, Queen Mary University of London, 67-69 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London WC2A 3JB. Please arrive 16:45 for tea/coffee and registration; we need to vacate the building by 21:00. Note Latecomers cannot be admitted.

Speakers currently being confirmed.

Host or Publisher CCLS Executive Education