Why Some Websites May Leave the UK Over Online Safety Rules
- Paul Francis
- 31 minutes ago
- 3 min read
The UK’s Online Safety Act, passed in 2023, is beginning to reshape how people experience the internet in Britain. While much of the legislation has yet to come into force, some of its requirements are already being felt. With stricter rules set to take effect in September, questions are being raised about whether the UK’s digital landscape could be permanently changed.
At its core, the Act is designed to make online spaces safer by holding tech platforms accountable for harmful content. This means services of all sizes, from global giants to small community forums, must assess and mitigate risks such as child exploitation, harassment, misinformation, and access to adult material. But how these responsibilities are enforced, and whether every platform is willing or able to comply, is where the complications begin.
Early Changes and Adjustments
Some companies have already begun reshaping how their services work in the UK. Steam, one of the world’s largest video game platforms, recently introduced a stricter credit card verification system in Britain, designed to restrict under-18s from accessing adult-rated games. Other platforms have implemented stronger age checks or limited features that could expose children to inappropriate material.
Not every company is willing to adapt, however. Wikipedia has openly questioned whether it can realistically comply with the Act. Its non-profit structure, reliance on volunteer moderation, and commitment to user privacy make it unlikely to adopt age verification or sweeping content controls. The Wikimedia Foundation has warned that if forced to implement intrusive measures, it may consider withdrawing services from the UK altogether.
Resistance and Concerns
It is not just Wikipedia sounding alarms. Smaller online communities and specialist forums argue that the Act favours large, well-funded platforms that can afford to build complex moderation systems. For independent websites, compliance could mean costly technical overhauls or the risk of heavy fines. There are fears that some may choose to block UK users rather than take on new legal and financial risks.
Tech giants, meanwhile, have expressed their own reservations. While companies like Meta, TikTok, and X (formerly Twitter) have pledged to follow the law, they continue to push back against specific provisions, particularly those requiring proactive removal of harmful but legal content. Critics argue that this places platforms in the role of arbiters of free speech, forcing them to make subjective decisions under threat of penalty.
What Happens in September
The most significant shift is expected in September, when further stipulations of the Act are set to take effect. Age verification requirements for adult content sites are likely to be enforced, echoing earlier debates around proposed online pornography restrictions that collapsed in 2019. This time, however, the rules come with more teeth: websites that fail to comply could face fines of up to 10% of global revenue or even be blocked entirely by UK internet providers.
The introduction of these measures could see a wave of disruption. Adult content platforms, gambling sites, and online services with mature-rated material are likely to be most immediately affected. But ripple effects may extend much further, impacting creative communities, independent publishers, and even gaming services if strict verification rules are applied broadly.
The Future of the UK Internet
Supporters of the Online Safety Act argue that these changes are long overdue. They point to the harm caused by online abuse, the easy availability of explicit material, and the difficulty parents face in monitoring children’s digital lives. For them, forcing platforms to take responsibility is a necessary step toward a safer internet.
Opponents counter that the measures are heavy-handed and risk creating a two-tier internet where UK users are cut off from parts of the global web. They warn that age verification systems could undermine privacy, increase data risks, and erode digital freedoms. If major services were to withdraw or limit access, Britain could find itself with a diminished internet compared to the rest of the world.
As September approaches, the question is less about whether the Act will change the internet in the UK, but by how much. What began as a promise to protect users may well mark the start of a more fragmented and tightly controlled online experience, one where availability and freedom depend on a platform’s ability — or willingness — to comply.