Online Regulations: The Internet's Seatbelt Moment

On February 17, 2024, the Digital Services Act will go into effect, altering the way online platforms are held accountable for the content they host. Some see this legislative change as a necessary measure for safeguarding our online lives. Others see it as a potential hindrance to freedom of speech that has the unfortunate consequence of creating a less open internet.

To better understand the impacts that the DSA could have, we’re examining regulations that are already in place in this episode of Click to Trust. We’ll hear from Ofcom’s Online Safety Senior Manager, Sophie Parker, about how the Online Safety Act (legislation similar to the DSA) is already changing the online landscape across the UK. And with the trend toward online regulation going global, we’ll check in with Australian eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman-Grant, about how her department balances the criticism that regulations stifle free speech with the reality that something must be done to keep the vulnerable safe online.