UK Passes the Online Safety Bill — And No, It Doesn’t Ban End-to-End Encryption

The British government has passed the controversial Online Safety Bill, aimed at tackling harmful behaviors online. Contrary to earlier reports, the law does not ban end-to-end encryption. Instead, messaging platforms may be required to use "accredited technology" to identify certain content, such as terrorism and child sexual abuse material, if they receive a notice from the communications regulator Ofcom. However, there are significant hurdles in implementing this provision, as no accredited technology currently exists. The law also introduces safety and security requirements for online platforms, including preventing children from accessing inappropriate content and protecting democratic and journalistic content. Non-compliant businesses could face fines of up to £18 million ($22.3 million) or 10% of their global turnover.