Explain the recent progress of the EU’s Digital Services Act and the UK’s Online Safety Act and outline their impact on digital platforms and user safety through February 2025.
In a world where virtual spaces fill daily life, the United Kingdom (UK) and the European Union (EU) have created strong legislative frameworks to make the internet safer and keep digital services in check. The UK’s Online Safety Act (OSA) and the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA) are central to this rule change, each implementing broad measures to fight illegal content, safeguard users, and hold digital platforms responsible.
The Digital Services Act: A Pan-European Approach
The DSA, which has been fully effective since February 2024, establishes a uniform regulatory framework across the EU, aiming to provide a safer digital space where users’ fundamental rights are protected. It imposes stringent obligations on digital service providers, with a particular emphasis on Very Large Online Platforms (VLOPs) serving over 45 million monthly active users.
Recent developments under the DSA are:
WhatsApp VLOP Designation: WhatsApp had an estimated 46.8 million average monthly active users in the EU in February 2025, above the DSA threshold. With this designation are greater obligations, for instance, blocking unlawful content and safeguarding the rights of users, particularly children. Non-compliance might see WhatsApp fined up to 6% of its world annual turnover
Regulatory Streamlining Initiatives: The European Commission announced plans to introduce at least five legislative packages in 2025 to reduce regulatory and administrative barriers. The initiative is set to promote investment and innovation within the EU digital economy.
Online Safety Act: The UK’s National Strategy
UK Online Safety Act of October 26, 2023, established a legislation bill that mandates the proactive addressing by online platforms of illegal and detrimental content. Of its main highlights are:
Risk Assessment Timelines: Illegal content risk assessments, since December 16, 2024, that are to be compliant by March 16, 2025, need to be drawn up by service providers that fall within scope. Risk assessments are required to determine and cure harms capable of being caused on their platforms.
Child Safety Focus: The OSA places special emphasis on protection of children from cyber violence. Despite the government leaving out a broad legal prohibition on the use of mobile phones in schools, it realizes that the school must effectively oversee the use of mobile phones to ensure their children are not harmed.
Comparative Insights and Future Outlook
While both the OSA and the DSA have the same aims—boosting online safety and taking platforms to task—they vary in scope and enforcement. The DSA promises a harmonized regulatory climate for member states of the EU, while the OSA contains the UK’s model of online safety, which seeks to address local national issues.
Along with such changing legal frameworks, digital service providers within the UK and EU are needed to follow shifting rules to develop accordingly. The latest changes signify the international move toward more and more digital regulations to create a more secure, a more open web.
