Today we are publishing our first major policy Statement for the Online Safety regime.
This decision on the Illegal Harms Codes and guidance marks a major milestone, with online
providers now being legally required to protect their users from illegal harm.
Ofcom published proposals about the steps providers should take to address illegal harms on their services shortly after passage of the Online Safety
Act in October 2023. Since then, we have been consulting carefully and widely, listening to industry, charities and campaigners, parents and children, as well as expert bodies and law enforcement agencies. With today's publication1, online providers must
take action to start to comply with these new rules. The result will be a safer life online for people in the UK, especially children.
Providers now have a duty to assess the risk of illegal harms on their services, with a
deadline of 16 March 2025. Subject to the Codes completing the Parliamentary process, from 17 March 2025, providers will need to take the safety measures set out in the Codes or use other effective measures to protect users from illegal content and
activity. We are ready to take enforcement action if providers do not act promptly to address the risks on their services.
