According to the Ofcom regulation checker [1] (linked to by The Register article), the Online Safety Act does not apply to this content.
Here's the most pertinent section (emphasis mine):
> Your online service will be exempt if... Users can only interact with content generated by your business/the provider of the online service. Such interactions include: comments, likes/dislikes, ratings/reviews of your content including using emojis or symbols. For example, this exemption would cover online services where the only content users can upload or share is comments on media articles you have published...
is this legal advice you are offering, as someone practicing law in the uk? because you are all over this thread stating your opinion very confidently.
(conveniently, there is no risk to yourself if you happen to be wrong or misinformed.)
No, I'm not offering legal advice, and neither am I stating an opinion. I'm simply quoting Ofcom, the regulatory body responsible for overseeing this law.
A valid point, and maybe I should have phrased it differently. I've deleted the comment which used the word "misinformed", so as not to cause any confusion.
My point is simply that the Ofcom quote clearly states that user comments on an article are not subject to the Online Safety Act. I assume this is a fact, as it's from the horse's mouth.
Some people appear to be basing their opinions on the assumption that the OSA does apply to such comments (hence my use of the offending word).
https://www.theregister.com/2025/02/06/uk_online_safety_act_...