Signal hints at leaving UK market following passage of online safety bill

Sept 20. 2023

By Turner Wright

Critics of the U.K. Online Safety Bill had pushed for amendments prior to passage, claiming the legislation could allow authorities a backdoor for end-to-end encryption services.

A bill aimed at regulating certain internet services in the United Kingdom, including activities in the metaverse, has passed through Parliament and awaits King Charles’ approval to become law. 

In a Sept. 19 announcement, the U.K. government said the Online Safety Bill had passed through a final debate in Parliament and will become law in the country “soon." Lawmakers had previously debated whether the legislation aimed at protecting users online — particularly focusing on children — could extend to virtual environments like the metaverse.

According to the government, the final version of the bill will require social media platforms to “remove illegal content quickly or prevent it from appearing in the first place," focusing on material deemed harmful to children. The firms will also need to release risk assessments for users, detailing how to report problems related to online safety.

“If social media platforms do not comply with these rules, [the Office of Communications] could fine them up to £18 million or 10% of their global annual revenue, whichever is biggest – meaning fines handed down to the biggest platforms could reach billions of pounds,” said the government.

Some opponents of the bill had pushed for amendments providing protections for end-to-end encryption, saying the legislation could allow the government a backdoor and undermine user privacy. In June, Apple reportedly said the then version of the bill “pose[d] a serious threat” surrounding "surveillance, identity theft, fraud, and data breaches”.

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