Key facts
- Tech Secretary Liz Kendall described the pace of online safety legislation as "unacceptably slow."
- The Online Safety Act has taken eight years to progress towards full implementation.
- The government plans to ban social media platforms from offering services to under-16s.
- Teenagers may use VPNs to bypass the upcoming ban, as seen with similar measures in Australia.
- Ministers are considering additional restrictions like overnight curfews and default breaks in infinite scrolling for older teenagers.
UK Tech Secretary Liz Kendall has expressed frustration with the slow progress of online safety legislation, stating that the eight-year development of the Online Safety Act is "unacceptably slow" and "not good enough."
Speaking to the Science, Innovation and Technology Committee, Kendall acknowledged that children will likely attempt to circumvent upcoming restrictions, such as the planned ban on social media platforms offering services to under-16s, a measure expected to take effect in spring 2027. She noted that even with effective age verification, children often find ways around such rules, citing Australia's experience.
The government is preparing to legislate before Christmas for the ban, which could affect platforms like TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, and X. Ministers are also considering additional measures for older teenagers, including restrictions on livestreaming, stranger contact, infinite scrolling, and overnight access.
Concerns have been raised about a potential "VPN loophole," with searches for Virtual Private Networks surging significantly after the ban was announced. VPNs can mask a user's location, potentially allowing under-16s to access platforms from jurisdictions without the restrictions. Chris Field, chief marketing officer at Yoti, emphasized the need for effective anti-circumvention measures on platforms, rather than focusing solely on a single tool.
Kendall insisted that the government would not weaken the policy before it is legislated and that all measures within the Online Safety Act would still need to be fulfilled. The challenge of age verification is compounded by privacy concerns and the fact that a significant portion of under-16s lack passports, making document-based checks insufficient on their own. Yoti's CEO, Robin Tombs, highlighted that the effectiveness of age checks depends on robust standards to prevent circumvention.
Separately, Google's planned use of IP addresses for advertising measurement in the UK and Europe has also drawn criticism, with the ICO previously labeling the move as "irresponsible" due to concerns over fingerprinting and online profiling.