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3 min read.

How the Online Safety Act is expanding and what you need to know.

The Online Safety Act (2026) is expanding, with new regulations recently introduced and others on the way throughout the year. Here, we will talk you through the significant changes and what they could mean for you and your business.

Recent Changes to the Online Safety Act (2026)

On 8 January 2026 new regulations came into force as part of the Online Safety Act (2026), which require digital platforms to scan private messages and user content before delivery using automated systems. This means platforms must detect and block harmful content before it reaches recipients, including private messages (using AI-powered scanning). The change stems from the Online Safety Act 2023, with regulations amended last year. The two new ‘priority offences’ that will trigger this action are:

Categorisation Register delayed until July 2026

Ofcom has delayed publishing the categorised services register until July 2026, despite it originally set to be published the previous July. This register determines which online services face the strictest obligations under the Act. The delay has affected compliance planning for major tech companies with some duties for larger platforms unable to happen.

What is Ofcom working on?

In November 2025, a government letter detailed upcoming from Ofcom, which included:

What to expect during 2026

Here is what to expect regarding the Online Safety Act (2026), throughout this year:

How will the changes affect platforms and users?

Platforms will have much heavier compliance burdens with potential for heavier fines. They will also need to deploy automated scanning tools, with more reporting and risk-assessment duties to ensure compliance.

For users there will be increased monitoring of private communications plus the proactive removal of harmful content. Because of the scanning requirements this does mean users could start to question their privacy when accessing online platforms.

What do these changes mean for businesses?

Because of the changes to the Online Safety Act (2026), businesses need to update their operations to remain compliant, which will incur costs.

Here is what you should do moving forward:

Need legal advice?

Contact Us Now If you are still unsure about the upcoming changes to the Online Safety Act (2026), our expert corporate solicitors are always happy to have a chat and talk through the best way to prepare.

Email on info@bowcockpursaill.co.uk or call 01782 200000 to speak to one of the Bowcock and Pursaill team today.

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