The Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, Liz Kendall, has voiced strong concerns over the protracted timeline for implementing online safety regulations in the UK. Speaking to the Science, Innovation and Technology Committee on Wednesday, Ms Kendall described the eight-year journey from initial concepts to the full enactment of the Online Safety Act as 'unacceptably slow' and stated it 'doesn’t cut the mustard'. This admission comes amid growing questions about the efficacy of a planned ban on social media for under-16s, particularly regarding how easily virtual private networks (VPNs) might be used to circumvent these new restrictions.
The government is currently preparing legislation, anticipated before Christmas, to introduce an 'Australia-plus' model ban on social media platforms offering services to under-16s, with the protective measures slated to come into force by spring 2027. This proposed ban is expected to impact major platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, X, Facebook, Reddit, and YouTube. Ministers are also exploring additional restrictions, including limitations on livestreaming, contact with strangers, 'infinite scrolling', and overnight access for 16 and 17-year-olds.
However, a significant challenge highlighted by Ms Kendall is the potential for children to bypass these rules. She acknowledged that similar bans in other countries, such as Australia, have shown that children will actively seek and often succeed in finding ways around restrictions. Data previously reported by City AM indicated a 165 per cent overnight surge in VPN searches following the ban's announcement, suggesting a clear intent among younger users to find workarounds. VPNs enable users to mask their geographical location, potentially allowing under-16s to access platforms from regions where such age restrictions are not in place.
Industry experts, such as Chris Field, Chief Marketing Officer at Yoti, have emphasised that the focus should be on platforms implementing effective, proportionate anti-circumvention measures rather than solely on individual tools like VPNs. He stated that regulators would likely demand evidence of the effectiveness of these measures. Ms Kendall remained firm on the government's stance, asserting that the policy would not be diluted before its implementation, stating, 'I’m not going to lift a ban before we’ve even legislated for it'. She added that platforms 'had their chance to make it safe, and they failed'.
The broader implications for online safety extend beyond the under-16 ban. Ms Kendall underscored that the ban is not a substitute for the wider duties mandated by the Online Safety Act, which platforms are still expected to fulfil. The challenge for ministers lies in balancing robust age verification with privacy concerns, as more stringent checks often involve trade-offs with personal data. Ofcom is currently evaluating various technologies for age assurance, including facial age estimation, digital ID, and financial or telecoms data, recognising that a significant proportion of under-16s lack passports, complicating document-based verification methods.
The debate underscores the complex interplay between rapid technological advancements and the slower pace of legislative and regulatory responses, a tension Ms Kendall directly addressed in her committee appearance. The government's commitment to protecting young people online is clear, but the practicalities of enforcing these protections in an ever-evolving digital landscape remain a significant hurdle.