Online safety regulatory documents and guidance
Published: 23 October 2025
Last updated: 12 October 2026
Latest versions of Ofcom’s online safety regulatory documents and guidance, as well as links to previous, superseded versions.
Statement: Crisis response protocol
Published: 9 June 2026
Last updated: 12 October 2026
This statement sets out our decision to recommend that service providers should prepare and apply a crisis protocol to mitigate and manage the risks arising from a significant increase in relevant illegal content and/or content harmful to children on their services.
Ofcom investigates Meta’s compliance with UK online safety laws
Published: 6 October 2026
Ofcom has today opened an investigation into whether Meta has failed to comply with its duties under the UK’s Online Safety Act, by not adequately assessing the risks posed by Instagram Instants before it launched.
Investigation into Meta’s compliance with illegal content risk assessment duties
Published: 6 October 2026
Ofcom has today opened an investigation to understand whether Meta has failed to comply with illegal content and children’s risk assessment duties.
Investigation into whether First Time Videos LLC has failed to comply with the Online Safety Act 2023
Published: 10 June 2025
Last updated: 30 September 2026
We are investigating whether First Time Videos LLC has failed/is failing to comply with its duties under the Online Safety Act 2023 to protect children from encountering pornographic content through the use of highly effective age assurance.
Online safety fees: what the duties are and how to comply with them
Published: 21 November 2025
Last updated: 30 September 2026
Find out about the new fees-related duties imposed on certain providers of regulated services under the Online Safety Act and how to comply with them.
Online Safety: Register of categorised services and list of emerging Category 1 services
Published: 30 June 2026
Last updated: 28 September 2026
The published register of categorised services sets out which services are categorised and are therefore subject to additional duties under the Act.
Harmful online content: how to report it and where to get help
Published: 26 October 2023
Last updated: 21 September 2026
If you, or someone you know, have been affected by illegal, harmful or upsetting content online, please contact a support service to find information and get help.
Online safety rules: what you need to know
Published: 26 October 2023
Last updated: 21 September 2026
Ofcom is the regulator for online safety in the UK. Our job is to make sure that online services protect their users.
Understanding people’s experiences of distressing and harmful content online
Published: 17 September 2026
As the UK regulator for online safety, hearing from the public and understanding people’s lived experiences online is an important way of informing our work.