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Hundreds of small websites may shut down due to UK's Online Safety Act

Hundreds of community websites run for fans of everything from cycling to Sunderland AFC may be forced to shut down by the UK's Online Safety Act, which is designed to protect children from harmful content

By Matthew Sparkes

20 December 2024

Small website owners say they may be forced to shut down

Portra/Getty Images

The UK’s new Online Safety Act may result in hundreds of community websites and forums being permanently shut down, as site administrators say they fear the law imposes onerous obligations and exposes them to potential million-pound fines.

“We fall firmly into scope, and I have no way to dodge it,” says Dee Kitchen, who runs the cycling forum LFGSS for its 70,000 members. “The Act is too broad.”

The Online Safety Act…

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