Social media firms shun UK over tough new online safety laws

A number of smaller social media platforms may soon cut off access to UK users, choosing to avoid strict new online safety laws rather than face the risk of punishment, a legal expert has warned.

The Online Safety Act, a major new piece of legislation designed to clean up the internet, is being phased in throughout 2025.

Overseen by media regulator Ofcom, the law requires digital platforms to take firm action against harmful and illegal content—including content that promotes violence, extremism, or exploitation.

Companies that fail to comply could face enormous fines or even have their websites blocked in the UK.

Last month, Ofcom published guidance on how platforms must protect children. Some smaller firms have responded by “geo-blocking” UK users to avoid the risk of breaching regulations.

Hayley Brady, partner at international law firm Herbert Smith Freehills, told the PA news agency that some smaller platforms are opting out entirely.

When speaking to an employee of a social media firm, she was told '"there is no way our founder will do anything, he wants everything to be out there, and we will not do it, we will not stop anything'"

Brady responded, “I was surprised, I asked about removing illegal content, they said ‘no, no, no – we’re not having that, we just won’t come to the UK.'"

While many charities have long advocated for greater protection online—especially for children and vulnerable users—the new rules have sparked controversy overseas.

Critics in the US, including allies of President Donald Trump, say the UK and Europe are over-regulating the tech sector and threatening free speech.

As political winds shift in the US, some platforms are doubling down on unfiltered content in a bid to stay in favour.

Even so, the biggest platforms—like Meta and TikTok—are unlikely to leave the UK market, Brady added. But frustration is mounting.

Major firms like Apple and Meta have already been fined under the EU’s Digital Markets Act, and the UK’s penalties under the Online Safety Act could be even steeper—up to £18 million or 10% of a company’s global turnover.

A government spokesperson defended the law, saying: “The online world is not a law-free zone – platforms which host illegal content like racism, extremism, or which glorify violence have no place in our society.

“Free speech is the lifeblood of our democracy but the UK’s online safety laws are clear: the internet is not a haven for those seeking to sow division in our communities, or for those who enable them.”