Good morning. From tomorrow social media companies must introduce child safety measures under the Online Safety Act. It is a key moment for a British government attempting, like so many others, to rein in tech firms and prevent children encountering harmful content on the internet.<\/p>\n
Passed by parliament in 2023, the landmark legislation significantly empowers the regulator Ofcom. Peter Kyle, the science and technology secretary, described the new codes as a \u201cwatershed moment\u201d<\/a> that turned the tide on \u201ctoxic experiences on these platforms\u201d.<\/p>\n Social media companies operating in the UK now risk hefty fines if they fail to take strong action against content that is harmful to children such as pornography or material that encourages self-harm.<\/p>\n Another substantial change is the requirement for pornography websites to verify that users are aged 18 or older, using methods such as photo-ID matching, facial age estimation, credit and debit card checks, mobile operator verification, open banking and digital ID wallets.<\/p>\n You may never have heard of it, but the act represents a significant step up in internet safety regulation \u2013 and overhaul of how we live online \u2013 in the UK. To explore why it was introduced, whether it goes far enough, and whether it will even work, I spoke to Dan Milmo, the Guardian\u2019s global technology editor. That\u2019s after the headlines.<\/p>\n Five big stories<\/p>\n Israel-Gaza war | More than 100 aid agencies issued a dire warning<\/a> that \u201cmass starvation\u201d was spreading across Gaza and urged Israel to let humanitarian aid in.<\/p>\n Environment | A \u201cclean, healthy and sustainable environment\u201d is a human right, according to judges at the top court<\/a> of the United Nations, in a landmark advisory opinion about countries\u2019 obligations to tackle climate change and the consequences they may face if they do not.<\/p>\n US news | Microsoft says Chinese \u201cthreat actors\u201d, including state-sponsored hackers, have exploited security vulnerabilities<\/a> in its SharePoint document-sharing servers, with research indicating that several hundred government agencies and organisations have been breached.<\/p>\n UK politics | Reform UK footed the bill for a \u00a3350 bottle of champagne at a luxury lunch and a \u00a3989-a-night hotel with hundreds of pounds in room service, its election campaign spending data shows<\/a>.<\/p>\n Media | The BBC is to broadcast<\/a> a series of MasterChef featuring Gregg Wallace and John Torode, filmed before the presenters were dropped after facing upheld allegations over their behaviour.<\/p>\n In depth: How did this come about?The family of 14-year-old Molly Russell, who took her own life after she had been viewing material on social media, have been active campaigners in online safety for children. Photograph: Family handout\/PA<\/p>\n This legislation, which applies to more than 100,000 companies \u2013 including major platforms like Facebook, Google, X, Reddit, and OnlyFans \u2013 came to be following impassioned campaigning by online safety advocates, Dan Milmo told me. \u201cLongstanding concerns about the impact of social media on children\u2019s mental health is a key driver. But there\u2019s also significant worry about social media\u2019s effect on adult mental health, including online hate like racial hatred and general abuse,\u201d he says. \u201cThis attempts to regulate social media companies and large search engines, which previously lacked formal oversight.\u201d<\/p>\n Crucial figures pushing for the government to act on online safety include Ian Russell<\/a>, the father of Molly Russell, a teenager who took her own life in 2017 after viewing harmful content online, Dan added. Other influential voices include Baroness Kidron, who has tirelessly advocated for higher standards of children\u2019s online safety. There have also been advocates for other aspects of the act, which came into force in 2023 but has taken some time to get up and running, including the footballer Rio Ferdinand, who has spoken powerfully about the mental health impacts of online hate, and the reality TV star Georgia Harrison, a victim of intimate image abuse (sometimes known as revenge porn).<\/p>\n How will it work?<\/p>\n Ofcom has been given significant new powers to enforce the new rules.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s a lot of literature that\u2019s already been issued by Ofcom that underpins the act,\u201d Dan said. \u201cI think that reflects the difficulty in regulating the massive, amorphous thing which is the online world. This isn\u2019t like telling the BBC to not show nudity before 9pm. This is about 100,000 companies. While it\u2019s obvious that people are still going to see harmful content, this is at least attempting to make a start on that.\u201d<\/p>\n Dan explained the new rules don\u2019t focus on individual pieces of content but instead mandate robust systems and procedures within companies to tackle harmful content effectively.<\/p>\n They also loop in previous legislation on malicious communication online, beefing up hate speech laws and giving regulators greater powers to hold tech platforms accountable for failing to act on abusive or threatening content.<\/p>\n He added: \u201cIf companies don\u2019t comply, they risk punishments ranging from fines and formal warnings to criminal charges against executives or even being blocked entirely in the UK.\u201d<\/p>\n Are these companies ready to comply? Time will tell, Dan said \u2013 but the big tech firms do have the money to be able to do so.<\/p>\n What about age verification?<\/p>\n One of the most controversial elements is the implementation of age verification checks to ensure people who want to access pornography sites are over 18.<\/p>\n These age verification requirements will come into force tomorrow, with major pornography providers like Pornhub already committing to putting in place \u201chighly effective\u201d age-checking measures. \u201cThere has been some backlash over privacy concerns, as confirming one\u2019s age implicitly reveals one\u2019s consumption of specific content,\u201d Dan said.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s worth pointing out that verification methods must comply with UK GDPR standards. A new industry of age-assurance providers, like Yoti, has emerged to facilitate this securely.\u201d<\/p>\n Social media companies could also be required to implement age checks if their sites contain harmful content like pornography that can be accessed by under-18s.<\/p>\n Social media platforms have to convince Ofcom that whatever measures they put in place to shield children from harmful material are highly effective – and those measures could include stringent age checks. Oliver Griffiths, Ofcom\u2019s group director of online safety, said in a statement<\/a> that \u201csociety has long protected youngsters from products that aren\u2019t suitable for them, from alcohol to smoking or gambling \u2026 For too long children have been only a click away from harmful pornography online.\u201d<\/p>\n Does it go far enough?<\/p>\n Campaigners generally feel the act could be stronger. In April, the children\u2019s commissioner for England, Rachel de Souza, told Dan<\/a> that Ofcom was backing big tech over the safety of under-18s, warning that the proposals were too weak.<\/p>\n The Molly Rose Foundation, a charity established by the family of Molly Russell, also criticised the measures<\/a> (pdf) as \u201coverly cautious\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s definitely a desire to have stronger measures. Peter Kyle, the tech secretary, was speaking this week about putting in a two-hour social media cap to crack down on \u2018compulsive\u2019 screentime. So the government is definitely considering stronger measures to keep children safe online,\u201d Dan explained.<\/p>\n The UK isn\u2019t alone: Australia is moving to ban social media for all under-16s. \u201cMany campaigners continue to push for stronger protections, particularly regarding the addictive nature of social media and protections for women\u2019s rights and children\u2019s safety,\u201d Dan said.<\/p>\n There were fears the act would get watered down as part of an effort to get a trade deal with the US. \u201cBut the government comes back every time and says very strongly, \u2018we will not water down protection of children\u2019. They point out that the act\u2019s primary focus is stopping children from being harmed online,\u201d Dan said.<\/p>\n Across the Atlantic, where many of the tech giants who will need to comply are based, some in Donald\u2019s Trump administration have grumbled about what they see to be far-reaching implications for free speech. However, Dan doesn\u2019t believe they will lobby heavily to get it changed. \u201cIt just wouldn\u2019t play very well. It would be pretty damaging politically for any government, including the UK, to agree to water down measures that protect children. And I just find it unlikely that tackling child sexual abuse material, for instance, would be something that is a bargaining chip in trade talks.\u201d<\/p>\n This act as it is feels like just the start, Dan added, with the government showing signs it is willing to update it if need be. \u201cOfcom seems ready for the challenge. They are releasing a lot of codes and a lot of consultations. I think the ultimate test will be whether, let\u2019s say in a year\u2019s time, children\u2019s and adults\u2019 experience of the online world is much safer and more comfortable than it is today.\u201d<\/p>\n skip past newsletter promotion<\/a><\/p>\n Our morning email breaks down the key stories of the day, telling you what\u2019s happening and why it matters<\/p>\n Privacy Notice: Newsletters may contain information about charities, online ads, and content funded by outside parties. If you do not have an account, we will create a guest account for you on theguardian.com<\/a> to send you this newsletter. You can complete full registration at any time. For more information about how we use your data see our Privacy Policy<\/a>. We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and the Google Privacy Policy<\/a> and Terms of Service<\/a> apply.<\/p>\n after newsletter promotion<\/p>\n What else we\u2019ve been readingEighty per cent of people say they want no fuss, no tradition, no black at their funeral \u2013 just something that represents them. Composite: Guardian Design; Alamy<\/p>\n After the death of his father-in-law, Tim Burrows discovered that direct cremation, a service which cuts out middle men and effectively bypasses formal funerals, is on the rise. But what does this trend say about how we mourn now? Tim explores in this wonderful piece<\/a>. Charlie Lindlar, acting deputy editor, newsletters<\/p>\n As a Gen X-er who grew up pre-smartphone, the thought of someone constantly knowing my whereabouts fills me with horror. Yet today, couples frequently turn on the location-sharing function in order to track one another\u2019s movements. Leah Harper<\/a> and her partner tried it for a week. 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