Online Safety Act 2023 (c. 50) – Section 213 – Offence under the Obscene Publications Act 1959: OFCOM defence

Sections

Section 213Offence under the Obscene Publications Act 1959: OFCOM defence

(1) Section 2 of the Obscene Publications Act 1959 (prohibition of publication of obscene matter) is amended in accordance with subsections (2) and (3).

(2) After subsection (5) insert—

“(5A) A person shall not be convicted of an offence against this section of the publication of an obscene article if the person proves that—

(a)
at the time of the offence charged, the person was a member of OFCOM, employed or engaged by OFCOM, or assisting OFCOM in the exercise of any of their online safety functions (within the meaning of section 235 of the Online Safety Act 2023), and
(b)
the person published the article for the purposes of OFCOM’s exercise of any of those functions.”

(3) In subsection (7)—

(a)
the words after “In this section” become paragraph (a), and
(b)
at the end of that paragraph, insert
“;
- (b)
  “OFCOM” means the Office of Communications.”

Annotations

Commencement Information

I1 S. 213 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 240(1)
I2 S. 213 in force at 10.1.2024 by S.I. 2023/1420, reg. 2(z30)

https://osa.digiphile.law/article/article-213.html

Text as at 19 September 2026.

This is an unofficial convenience version of the Online Safety Act 2023. It is presented “as is” without guarantee of accuracy, completeness or reliability. See the source text for the official version. This site was last updated in September 2026.