Ofcom designates 11 platforms as Category 1 services under Online Safety Act
Ofcom has designated 11 major platforms as Category 1 services under the UK Online Safety Act, subjecting them to new requirements for content recommendation systems, identity verification tools, and protections for journalistic content. Providers must now implement systems to manage these mandates, with draft guidance providing a four-stage process for suitable and sufficient safety assessments.
Key Takeaways
- Category 1 triggers apply to services with recommender systems and over 34 million UK users, or 7 million users if content sharing is enabled.
- Draft codes mandate optional identity verification tools and adult user controls for content related to self-harm, eating disorders, and hate speech.
- Recognition of news publishers will require prior-notification processes before platforms can restrict or remove protected journalistic content.
- Providers must complete their initial 'suitable and sufficient' safety assessments within three months of Ofcom publishing its final guidance.
- Emerging Category 1 services meeting 75% of user thresholds are identified but currently remain exempt from these additional B2B mandates.
Why It Matters
This designation forces a technical and operational shift for the UK’s largest streaming and social platforms. By moving from broad moderation to granular user-empowerment tools—such as blurs, alerts, and verification filters—platforms must overhaul their recommendation engines and UI/UX to satisfy Ofcom’s draft codes. For the broader industry, this establishes a regulatory ceiling that dictates how B2B platforms must manage algorithmic safety and identity. The immediate competitive implication is the increased compliance cost for large-scale operators compared to 'Emerging' rivals. Watch for the final implementation statements in mid-2027 to see if Ofcom adjusts thresholds in response to evolving UK monthly active user (MAU) data.
Additional Context
The designation of these 11 platforms follows a significant delay in the Online Safety Act (OSA) implementation roadmap. Per TechUK (November 2025), Ofcom pushed the publication of this categorisation register from 2025 to July 2026 due to legal challenges and the need for a 'representations process' that allowed firms to contest provisional designations. This delay has pushed the final enforcement of Category 1 duties into mid-2027, providing a longer compliance window for platforms to integrate the required identity verification and reporting systems.
In tandem with Ofcom’s regulatory rollout, the UK government is tightening restrictions on younger users via the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT). Per official government statements from July 2026, the UK plans to implement a 'social media ban' for children under 16 by early 2027, mirroring the Australian model. This includes mandatory curfews from midnight to 6 a.m. for 16- and 17-year-olds and default restrictions on 'addictive' features like autoplay and personalized feeds for minors.
Furthermore, the regulator is increasing pressure on automated systems. Per Decision Marketing (May 2026), Ofcom has previously expressed dissatisfaction with how platforms like TikTok and YouTube use AI to detect harmful content, noting that seven in 10 children still encounter harmful material despite existing safety features. This suggests that the final Category 1 codes will likely demand higher accuracy benchmarks for automated moderation and stricter age assurance technologies than those currently deployed by most Tier-1 video services.
Read full article at globalpolicywatch.com
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