The Government Responds to the Online Safety Act Petition – But Are Small Platforms Still at Risk?

Published on: 29 July 2025
By: Kieron JH

In response to a public petition titled “Repeal the Online Safety Act”, which gathered more than 100,000 signatures, the UK Government has officially dug in its heels: there are no plans to repeal the Act.

The Online Safety Act 2023 aims to regulate harmful online content. It places a legal duty on online platforms to assess and manage risks, especially to children, and to remove illegal content. While the goal may sound reasonable, many campaigners have raised alarms about overreach, the compliance burden, and the chilling effect on free expression—especially for disabled people and operators of small, non-commercial platforms.

What Did the Government Say?

The government insists the Act will be implemented in a “proportionate” way, with Ofcom enforcing it according to risk and platform size.

• No repeal – the Government is pressing ahead.
• Proportionality – Ofcom must adjust its approach based on platform size and risk.
• Mandatory risk assessments – even small sites must assess risks to children and users.
• Small sites can still be high-risk – forums promoting suicide or self-harm are cited as examples.
• Minimum requirements still apply:
  • Clear terms and conditions
  • User reporting tools
  • Complaint handling processes
  • Appointed compliance contact
• Ofcom promises leniency – but enforcement may still be subjective and unpredictable.

What This Means for Disabled Creators and Small Projects

This is more than a tech regulation issue—it is an access and inclusion issue.

Neurodivergent, disabled, and criminalised people often create alternative online spaces when mainstream platforms let them down. These projects tend to be informal, small-scale, and community-led. Yet under the Act, they still face legal obligations that can be complex and resource-draining.

There is no mention in the government’s response of:

• Funding or legal aid for small or disabled-led platforms
• Accessible guidance and tools
• Free speech protections for marginalised communities

There is also a risk of the Act being weaponised—bad actors could target small support forums with complaints to trigger investigations or shutdowns.

The Bottom Line

The Government is doubling down on the Online Safety Act. Ofcom has promised a “sensible” approach, but for many grassroots and disabled-led platforms, hope is not a compliance strategy.

If your platform allows user interaction and could be accessed by children, you are likely in scope. That means it’s on you to prove it’s safe, even if it’s a blog or support group run out of your bedroom.

If the aim is truly to promote both safety and innovation, the government must offer:

• Transparent rules and thresholds
• Accessible compliance pathways
• Safeguards against abuse of the reporting system
• Free or low-cost technical and legal support

Final Thought

We’ve seen this before—laws aimed at reining in Big Tech end up crushing the grassroots. The Online Safety Act may reduce some genuine harms, but without careful reform, it risks becoming just another barrier to community, creativity, and disabled self-expression.

Keep watching. Keep speaking up.

— Kieron JH
Founder, The Reasonable Adjustment
www.thereasonableadjustment.co.uk