Online Safety Act 2023

Limited functionality services U.K.

4 (1) A user-to-user service is exempt if the functionalities of the service are limited, such that users are able to communicate by means of the service only in the following ways—

(a) posting comments or reviews relating to provider content;

(b) sharing such comments or reviews on a different internet service;

(c) expressing a view on such comments or reviews, or on provider content, by means of—

(i) applying a “like” or “dislike” button or other button of that nature,

(ii) applying an emoji or symbol of any kind,

(iii) engaging in yes/no voting, or

(iv) rating or scoring the content (or the comments or reviews) in any way (including giving star or numerical ratings);

(d) producing or displaying identifying content in connection with any of the activities described in paragraphs (a) to (c).

(2) In sub-paragraph (1), “provider content” means content published on a service by the provider of the service or by a person acting on behalf of the provider, including where the publication of the content is effected or controlled by means of—

(a) software or an automated tool or algorithm applied by the provider or by a person acting on behalf of the provider, or

(b) an automated tool or algorithm made available on the service by the provider or by a person acting on behalf of the provider.

(3) For the purposes of this paragraph, content that is user-generated content in relation to a service is not to be regarded as provider content in relation to that service.

Commencement Information

I1 Sch. 1 para. 4 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 240(4)(a)