UK government stands firm on Online Safety Act despite over 377,000 signatures on petition

The UK government has rejected calls to repeal the Online Safety Act despite mounting public pressure, with a parliamentary petition against the legislation now attracting over 377,000 signatures. The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology issued a firm response on July 28, stating it has “no plans to repeal” the controversial law that came into effect on July 25.

In its official response to the petition, the government emphasized that the Online Safety Act takes a “proportionate approach, balancing the protection of users from online harm with the ability for low-risk services to operate effectively.” The response highlighted that proportionality is built into the Act’s core principles, with regulator Ofcom required to consider the size and risk level of different services when recommending compliance steps.

The government’s stance comes amid significant public backlash against the new regulations, which require platforms to implement robust age verification systems to prevent children from accessing harmful content. Many people are saying the measures amount to digital censorship and threaten user privacy.

The implementation of the Online Safety Act has triggered a massive surge in VPN adoption across the UK. ProtonVPN reported a more than 1,400 percent increase in UK sign-ups within hours of the age verification requirements taking effect on July 25. This huge spike shows just how much people are pushing back against the new digital restrictions.

The surge in VPN usage has been so big that app stores now show multiple VPN services dominating the top charts in the UK, with users scrambling to find ways around the new age verification requirements. Check this screenshot shared by user @alice.mosphere.at‬ on Bluesky.

Recent reports suggest that platforms are handling these requirements differently, with some taking more restrictive approaches than others. Apps like Yoti have become popular identity verification solutions, while others have just blanket banned certain content that affects adult users too. Some platforms have even blocked access entirely for UK users rather than deal with the compliance headache.

The implementation has already created some unexpected consequences. In the past few days, many users in the UK, and some in other parts of Europe, suddenly started noticing that they couldn’t view NSFW content on X despite being adults. And in another blow for privacy enthusiasts, Europe seems to be testing an age verification app that relies on Google’s APIs, essentially leaving custom ROM users in the dust.

That said, Ofcom, the UK’s communications regulator, has said it will take a “sensible approach to enforcement” with smaller services that present low risk to users. The regulator has put together support programs, including guidance tools and workshops, especially aimed at helping smaller companies figure out how to comply with all the new rules.

The government stressed its worry about platforms that host genuinely harmful content, like forums encouraging suicide or self-harm. Officials argue that letting small services off the hook would allow dangerous content to slip through regulatory gaps.

With the petition now well above the 100,000 signature threshold needed for parliamentary consideration, MPs will likely debate the future of the Online Safety Act in the coming weeks. The petition has triggered a mandatory government response and opened the door for a possible parliamentary debate, though getting 100,000 signatures is one thing and actually changing government policy is another.

But the government’s strong defense of the legislation suggests it’s not budging anytime soon. Officials continue to work with Ofcom on implementation, monitoring what they call “proportionate” enforcement of the new rules.

It’s clear that both sides are adamant; the only problem is that only one side has the final say at the moment. So, unless citizens in the UK create even more pressure on the government to step back, the Online Safety Act is here to stay whether you like it or not.