Morning, Tuesday, 11th November 2025
Online
This conference will focus on next steps for online safety policy, regulation and practice in the UK.
It is bringing together stakeholders and policymakers to discuss the next implementation phase of the Online Safety Act 2023, including how transparency requirements for platform content moderation and user safety systems will be applied in practice, the categorisation of user-to-user and search services under the new regulatory framework, and priorities for Ofcom in its role as lead regulator.
Areas for discussion include priorities for regulation, enforcement, and platform responsibilities in light of evolving risks and ongoing implementation of the Act, as well as wider issues around compliance, governance, and public expectations. Attendees will assess what will be needed to support effective compliance, particularly for smaller platforms, alongside options for strengthening enforcement capacity and coordination with related legislation, such as the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 and the Crime and Policing Bill.
Protecting children online & platform responsibilities
Latest developments in improving online protection for children and young people will be a focus, including early indications of how age assurance requirements are being met for services likely to be accessed by children. Delegates will assess how effectively providers are balancing safety with privacy, following enforcement from July 2025 of relevant duties under the Act, including concerns around handling of personal data and that identity verification might not be easy to navigate.
Attendees will discuss the implementation of duties under the Act across different service types, including practical challenges, proportionality for smaller platforms, and the use of evidence in setting regulatory thresholds. Next steps for safety-by-design and requirements for risk assessment will also be considered, including latest thinking on technical and other strategies for spotting and tackling potential harms, and ensuring that assessments remain current.
Delegates will assess the impact of Ofcom’s Protection of Children Codes of Practice and what enforcement may mean for platform design and content moderation systems. Additional measures to strengthen child protection online will also be considered, including minimising livestream interactions with children and strategies for preventing users who shared child sexual abuse material from using online services.
Transparency reporting
The conference will be an opportunity to assess evolving requirements for transparency reporting and accountability obligations under the Act, including expectations on categorised services to disclose data on content moderation, risk assessments, and enforcement outcomes.
Delegates will discuss implications of the categorisation framework, including concerns around threshold-setting and the possibility that similar regulatory obligations could apply unevenly across services of different sizes and types. Issues for discussion include the impact on smaller platforms, proportionality of enforcement, and what constitutes reasonable compliance for services with limited capacity.
Tackling illegal & emerging harms
There will be a focus on addressing regulatory challenges posed by new and emerging harms, such as responding to artificial intelligence-generated content, misinformation, and digitally facilitated abuse affecting users of all ages.
Attendees will assess priorities for collaboration between regulators - including Ofcom, the Information Commissioner’s Office, and other bodies - looking at approaches to achieving consistency across safety, privacy, and data frameworks. Practicalities of further integrating mental health considerations into the UK’s online safety framework will also be discussed. We expect the scope for improved cross-border coordination to be considered as part of this discussion.
Delegates will also consider the role of protocols and technologies in preventing illegal content going viral, with Ofcom consulting on additional safety measures to strengthen the Illegal Content Codes of Practice. The way forward for use of digital fingerprints through hash matching - as suggested by the regulator for preventing illegal material reaching users - will also be discussed, including options for implementation by platforms and considerations around proportionality.
Smartphones, social media & use in schools
Discussion will focus on the use of smartphones and social media, with the Private Members’ Protection of Children (Digital Safety and Data Protection) Bill progressing through Parliament, requiring publication of guidance for parents and carers on safe use, as well as research into the impact of social media on children. In considering limits and access controls, we expect discussion on the rationale for restrictions on smartphones and social media, looking at feasibility and risks, as well as priorities for parents and public messaging.
Coordination of regulatory measures with safeguarding responsibilities in schools and other educational settings will be discussed, looking at the adequacy of statutory guidance and how responsibilities of educational settings may develop. Attendees will consider strategies and best practice for stakeholder engagement, as well as support and responsibilities for school leadership, parents, and community organisations, alongside platforms, regulators, and government in responding to emerging threats and supporting safe and accessible digital environments that reflect the needs of different user groups.
All delegates will be able to contribute to the output of the conference, which will be shared with parliamentary, ministerial, departmental and regulatory offices, and more widely. This includes the full proceedings and additional articles submitted by delegates. As well as key stakeholders, those due to attend include parliamentary pass-holders from both Houses of Parliament and officials from the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology; Department of Education, NI; HM Treasury; Ofcom; National Crime Agency; Home Office; and the Welsh Government.
