Part 12Interpretation and final provisions

Interpretation

• Section 226“Provider” of internet service

  (1) This section applies to determine who is the “provider” of an internet service for the purposes of this Act. User-to-user services (other than combined services) (2) The…

• Section 227“User”, “United Kingdom user” and “interested person”

  (1) For the purposes of this Act a user is a “United Kingdom user” of a service if— (a) where the user is an individual, the individual is…

• Section 228“Internet service”

  (1) In this Act “internet service” means a service that is made available by means of the internet. (2) For the purposes of subsection (1) a service is…

• Section 229“Search engine”

  (1) In this Act “search engine”— (a) includes a service or functionality which enables a person to search some websites or databases (as well as a service or…

• Section 230“Age verification” and “age estimation”

  (1) This section applies for the purposes of this Act. (2) “Age verification” means any measure designed to verify the exact age of users of a regulated service.…

• Section 231“Proactive technology”

  (1) In this Act “proactive technology” means— (a) content identification technology, (b) user profiling technology, or (c) behaviour identification technology, but this is subject to subsections (3) and…

• Section 232Content communicated “publicly” or “privately”

  (1) This section specifies factors which OFCOM must, in particular, consider when deciding whether content is communicated “publicly” or “privately” by means of a user-to-user service for the…

• Section 233“Functionality”

  (1) In this Act “functionality”, in relation to a user-to-user service, includes any feature that enables interactions of any description between users of the service by means of…

• Section 234“Harm” etc

  (1) This section applies for the purposes of this Act, apart from Part 10 (communications offences). (2) “Harm” means physical or psychological harm. (3) References to harm presented…

• Section 235“Online safety functions” and “online safety matters”

  (1) In this Act references to OFCOM’s “online safety functions”— (a) are references to— (i) the functions that OFCOM have under this Act, (ii) the functions that OFCOM…

• Section 236Interpretation: general

  (1) In this Act— “adult” means a person aged 18 or over; “audit notice” means a notice given under paragraph 4 of Schedule 12 ; “automated tool” includes…

• Section 237Index of defined terms

  The following table sets out terms defined or explained for this Act or for a Part of this Act. Term Provision adult section 236 age estimation section 230…

Final provisions

• Section 238Financial provisions

  There is to be paid out of money provided by Parliament— (a) any expenditure incurred under or by virtue of this Act by the Secretary of State, and…

• Section 239Extent

  (1) Subject to the following provisions of this section, this Act extends to England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. (2) The following provisions extend to England and…

• Section 240Commencement and transitional provision

  (1) Except as provided by subsection (4) , this Act comes into force on such day as the Secretary of State may by regulations appoint. (2) The power…

• Section 241Short title

  This Act may be cited as the Online Safety Act 2023.