Online Safety Act 2023 (c. 50) – Section 33 – Duties about freedom of expression and privacy
Sections
Section 33Duties about freedom of expression and privacy
(1) This section sets out the duties about freedom of expression and privacy which apply in relation to all regulated search services.
(2) When deciding on, and implementing, safety measures and policies, a duty to have particular regard to the importance of protecting the rights of users and interested persons to freedom of expression within the law.
(3) When deciding on, and implementing, safety measures and policies, a duty to have particular regard to the importance of protecting users from a breach of any statutory provision or rule of law concerning privacy that is relevant to the use or operation of a search service (including, but not limited to, any such provision or rule concerning the processing of personal data).
(4) In this section—
- “interested person” has the meaning given by section 227(7);
- “safety measures and policies” means measures and policies designed to secure compliance with any of the duties set out in—
- (a)section 27 (illegal content),
- (b)section 29 (children’s online safety),
- (c)section 31 (content reporting), or
- (d)section 32 (complaints procedures).
- (a)
Annotations
Commencement Information
- I1 S. 33 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 240(1)
- I2 S. 33 in force at 10.1.2024 by S.I. 2023/1420, reg. 2(j)
https://osa.digiphile.law/article/article-33.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.