The Online Safety Act 2023 has marked a turning point in how UK-based internet users access online spaces. To access content that may be deemed inappropriate for children, individuals must now submit to age assurance checks. This is a significant change from the largely unrestricted access to online platforms that users have previously enjoyed.
We now have a clearer initial picture of the implementation of the Act and its effect on users. While the law seeks to ensure that children are not exposed to harmful content and spaces, there remains a division between compliant and non-compliant platforms.
There is also emerging evidence of significant circumvention of age assurance through VPN use and anecdotal evidence of circumvention by other methods.
Others have raised concerns about unintended consequences for freedom of information and privacy online.
Join us for an illuminating panel event where leading voices from academia and industry will discuss how to respond to such emerging challenges for age assurance.
This panel will be held as a hybrid event on Tuesday 4th November 2025 12:30 to 14:00, with networking refreshments from 12:00 in room A4 Law and Social Sciences Building, University Campus. Hybrid attendance is by Teams webinar: Register here. Speakers will attend in person. This event has been organised by the Law and Tech Research Centre in association with Privacy Laws & Business.
Speakers:
Dr Mando Rachovitsa, Associate Professor in Human Rights Law, University of Nottingham
Dr Rachovitsa’s expertise lies in the areas of human rights law and technology law, including advanced AI.
Ellie Colegate, Teaching Associate, University of Nottingham
Ellie specialises in the Online Safety Act 2023. Her recently submitted PhD thesis, undertaken at the EPSRC Horizon Centre for Doctoral Training, investigated how the Act was likely to impact young people and their everyday interactions with social media platforms and online content.
Dr Claire Bessant, Associate Professor, Northumbria Law School
Dr Bessant’s interests focus on the impact of technology on children’s privacy online, including the phenomenon of sharenting and social media use.
Andy Lulham, Chief Operating Officer, Verifymy
Verifymy is a safety technology provider on a mission to safeguard children and society online. It provides age verification across a range of social media, adult entertainment, online gaming, online marketplace, and online dating websites.
Julie Dawson, Chief Policy and Regulatory Officer, Yoti
Yoti is a pioneer in reuseable Digital ID wallets and is a market leader in age assurance technology. Its clients include Instagram, Lloyds Bank, Epic Games, Stirling, and the Post Office.