A Comprehensive Guide to the UK's Online Safety Act for Game Developers

As the CEO and founder of PlaySafe ID, a digital identity platform, Andrew Wailes emphasizes the importance of protecting children from online predators. The UK's Online Safety Act (OSA) is set to come into full effect on July 25, and game developers worldwide must comply if their games target UK users or are likely to be played by UK youngsters. The OSA aims to ensure that online services are safe by design, with a higher standard of protection for children than adults, while providing transparency and accountability. Game companies must assess the likelihood of illegal content and harmful material, and ensure they meet the necessary duties to their users. To comply with the OSA, game developers must implement highly effective age verification systems, limit access to inappropriate content, and conduct children's risk assessments. The OSA considers photo-ID matching, facial age estimation, and digital identity services as capable of being highly effective, but game companies must choose a system that is technically accurate, robust, reliable, and fair. Game developers must also assess the likelihood of illegal content, such as child sexual exploitation and abuse, and ensure they meet the OSA's framing of harmful content. The OSA provides guidance on children's risk assessments, and game companies must complete these assessments by July 24. The process of compliance may seem overwhelming, but it is essential for protecting young users and ensuring the games industry thrives. Game developers must prioritize highly effective age assurance, robust systems for limiting access to certain functions and content, and making players aware of their accountability. The OSA is a positive piece of legislation that protects children and allows the games industry to grow, providing appropriate content to appropriate audiences and galvanizing its reputation. Game developers must take the necessary steps to comply with the OSA, and by doing so, they can contribute to a safer online world. Key deadlines for game developers include completing children's access assessments, illegal content safety duties, and children's risk assessments. Game developers must also comply with children's safety duties by July 24. The PlaySafe ID guide provides a comprehensive overview of the OSA and its requirements, and game developers can use this resource to ensure they are compliant. In conclusion, the OSA is a critical piece of legislation that game developers must comply with to ensure the safety of their users. By implementing highly effective age verification systems, limiting access to inappropriate content, and conducting children's risk assessments, game developers can contribute to a safer online world and thrive in the games industry.