Small UK websites, user-to-user services and even computer games that are completely safe and well managed, are faced with difficult paperwork, risks assessments, registration and fines thanks to the Online Safety Act.
Even personal blogs with comments are forced to undergo these difficult tests and compliance tasks. Getting it wrong or ignoring them could cost an operator their house – as fines can be imposed for failing to do them.
As a result, many small websites in the UK are deciding to close down. Among those we know about, there are:
- Cycling, football and gaming forums
- Mastodon social media sites
- Tech forums
- Personal blogs
- Urban Dead an online browser game that ran for 19 years
As many of the sites are tech focused, we suspect that the people who run them are more aware of the Act. Many more sites may close in the future. Many other websites outside the UK are likely to block access for UK residents, as they face the same duties.
Yet this problem can be easily remedied. The Secretary of State can change the rules, to exempt websites that are small, and at very little risk of hosting harmful content.
Please write to your MP and explain why sites should be exempted.
If you are affected, as a user or operator, please add this to your email to your MP.
