Over 340,000 Brits Want To Repeal The UK Online Safety Act – TechRadar
- The petition to repeal the Online Safety Act has surpassed 340,000 signatures, well over the 100,000 threshold required to force parliamentary debate
- New age verification regulations came into force on 25 July 2025, mandating robust proof of age to access adult content or services
- Critics warn the checks threaten privacy, encourage censorship and may drive users to VPNs to bypass restrictions
A growing backlash has emerged following the introduction on 25 July 2025 of strict age verification rules under the UK’s Online Safety Act. The legislation now requires platforms hosting adult content—or content concerning suicide, self-harm, eating disorders or violence—to demand robust proof of age, such as facial scans, ID documents or bank/card data, in a bid to shield minors online.
Within days of implementation, a parliamentary petition initiated by Alex Baynham, founder of the Build party, reached over 340,000 signatures—well beyond the 100,000 mark needed to prompt formal debate in Parliament. The petition argues that the Act’s rather sweeping scope unfairly impacts hobby forums and everyday discussion, and calls on MPs to repeal it and adopt more proportionate legislation.
Supporters of the legislation—including Ofcom and child protection groups—emphasise the importance of safeguarding children from harmful material online. Yet critics highlight major risks: invasive data requirements, potential privacy breaches, and chilling effects on free speech and online communities. There is also concern that smaller forums may have to restrict UK access or shut down due to compliance costs and legal uncertainty.
Meanwhile, newly imposed verification systems have prompted a surge in VPN usage across the UK, as people seek to bypass geo-locked or age-gated services. Providers report skyrocketing demand in the country.
The political response has been fierce. Reform UK, led by Nigel Farage and Zia Yusuf, has pledged to repeal the Act on election, calling it a “borderline dystopian” measure that infringes on free speech. They argue that verification systems are easily circumvented with VPNs and that the Act lacks a credible alternative proposal.
Labour ministers, notably Technology Secretary Peter Kyle, counter that repealing the law would amount to siding with predators. Kyle has accused Farage of being aligned with “extreme pornographers” and even the disgraced Jimmy Savile by opposing measures designed to protect children. Farage called Kyle’s remarks “disgusting” and demanded an apology.
In official response to the petition, the government reaffirmed that it has no intention of repealing the Act, stating instead that Ofcom will implement its safeguards in a robust yet proportionate manner, balancing child protection with effective regulation for lower-risk services.
How To Have Your Say
Sign the parliamentary petition calling for repeal via the official site.
Contact your MP to express concerns and emphasise why you oppose the Act.
Explain how specific features of the Act—such as age gates on forums or hobby sites—affect you personally.
The debate around the Online Safety Act is now entering a critical phase: public dissatisfaction is mounting, political fault lines are growing sharper, and legislation intended to improve digital safety is being questioned by many for overreach. Whether renewed scrutiny will yield amendments, repeal or continued enforcement remains to be seen.
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