You might have heard or start hearing more about the The UK Online Safety Act (OSA) which is now in effect from March 2025. If you run an organisation in the arts, culture and heritage sector, you may be wondering: does this apply to us? For many organisations, the impact will be limited— but it’s still important to check whether your website, social media, or digital activities fall under the new rules. Here’s a simple guide to get you started.
Do You Need to Take Action?
You should review your digital presence if:
- Your website allows public comments, reviews, or discussion forums
- You manage a Facebook group, YouTube channel, or other online community where people interact
- You run online programmes for children or young people
You probably don’t need to worry if:
- Your website is mainly a digital brochure with no user interaction
- You use social media only for updates rather than running interactive groups
- You don’t create online content aimed at children
If your organisation does allow public interactions online, you may need to assess risks and put safeguards in place. Here’s an overview of what you need to know.
Key steps to prepare for the Online Safety Act
1. Check if your organisation falls under the Act
The law applies mainly to user-to-user services (where users generate content that others can see) and search services (if you provide a search function across multiple sites).
While a site with user generated content is probably easier to imagine, what could search services could be for example a listing site that serves listings from several venues or organisations. It could be a arts resource hub or a job sharing website that links off to multiple third party websites.
If you’re not sure, you can use Ofcom’s scope assessment tool to check if your services are affected. It takes you through a set of questions with many questions and explanations. Depending on the complexity of your case, it could take some time but I noted you can save your answers as you go along and come back to them when you have found answers to some of the questions.
2. Conduct a simple Risk Assessment
If your site or social channels allow public interaction, you should assess risks such as illegal or harmful content appearing on your platforms.
Basic Risk Assessment Checklist:
- Do we allow user-generated content (comments, uploads, reviews)?
- Could users share or see harmful content (hate speech, misinformation, explicit material)?
- Do we engage with children or young people in digital spaces?
- What moderation and reporting tools do we currently have?
Action: If any of the above apply, document these risks and consider improvements.
3. Implement safety measures where needed
If you do allow public interactions, consider:
- Content moderation – have clear policies for monitoring and removing inappropriate content
- User reporting tools – make it easy for people to report issues
- Age verification – if your content is aimed at young people, consider age-appropriate safeguards
Ofcom has guidance on safety measures to help organisations comply.
4. Review your reporting and record-keeping
You need to show you are aware of risks and taking reasonable steps to mitigate them.
- Keep records of risk assessments and safety measures
- Have a process for responding to reports of harmful content
- Regularly review and update policies as digital activity evolves
5. Stay informed and connect with others
This is a new law, and guidance is still evolving. As Arts marketers we need to stay updated and seek support where needed.
Next Steps:
- Follow Ofcom’s updates on online safety compliance
- Look for industry forums to learn from similar organisations
- Get legal advice if you’re unsure of your responsibilities
Penalties for non-compliance (e.g running a risk assessment implementing safety measures where required, reporting to Ofcom when requested) can be significant. The good news is that most arts organisations will only need to take a few simple steps to ensure they are covered. By checking where you stand now and making any necessary adjustments, you can continue engaging your audiences online with confidence, knowing your digital spaces are safe, compliant, and welcoming.
Final Thoughts
For many arts organisations, this law won’t require big changes — but it’s always good practice to check where you stand and make sure your digital spaces remain safe and welcoming. By taking a little time now, you can ensure compliance and build trust with your audiences.