Online safety laws
8 regulations worldwide that deal with online safety, with every phased deadline and the official source for each.
8 regulations
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- California SB 243 (companion chatbots)
California
In forceAIChildrenNext: Jul 1, 2027 First annual report to Office of Suicide Prevention
- Australia Social Media Minimum Age
Australia
In forceChildrenOnline safetyEffective Dec 10, 2025
- Brazil ECA Digital
Brazil
In forceChildrenOnline safetyEffective Mar 17, 2026
- In forceAIOnline safety
Effective Sep 1, 2025
- Digital Services Act
European Union
In forceOnline safetyChildrenEffective Nov 16, 2022
- TAKE IT DOWN Act
United States (Federal)
In forceOnline safetyAIEffective May 19, 2025
- UK Online Safety Act
United Kingdom
In forceOnline safetyChildrenEffective Mar 17, 2025
- Virginia VCDPA
Virginia
AmendedPrivacyChildrenEffective Jan 1, 2023
Upcoming deadlines
July 20271 deadline
First annual report to Office of Suicide Prevention
Operators begin annual reporting on crisis referrals and detection protocols.
Past deadlines
August 20261 deadline
- Digital Services ActEuropean Union
ChatGPT designated as VLOSE; Reddit and Roblox as VLOPs
Commission designated ChatGPT as a very large online search engine and Reddit and Roblox as very large online platforms. They have four months (by January 2027) to meet VLOP/VLOSE obligations.
July 20261 deadline
Ban on selling precise geolocation data (SB 338)
Controllers may not sell consumers' precise geolocation data (1,750-ft radius), replacing the prior consent-based treatment.
May 20261 deadline
Platform notice-and-removal process required
Covered platforms must have a clear notice-and-removal process and remove valid reported content within 48 hours (Sec. 3, one year after enactment).
April 20261 deadline
Fee notification window closes (2026/27)
Fee-liable providers must notify Ofcom before the notification window for the first charging year closes.
March 20261 deadline
ECA Digital in force
Art. 41-A (as set by Law 15.352/2026, following MP 1.319/2025) fixes entry into force on 17 March 2026.
February 20261 deadline
SB 854 preliminarily enjoined (NetChoice v. Jones)
E.D. Va. preliminarily enjoined enforcement of the SB 854 social media time-limit provisions on First Amendment grounds; Virginia has appealed.
January 20262 deadlines
Under-16 social media time limit (SB 854) takes effect
Social media platforms must use commercially reasonable age determination and cap users under 16 at 1 hour/day unless a parent consents. A preliminary injunction issued Feb 27, 2026 bars enforcement.
Chatbot safeguards apply
AI disclosure, suicide and self-harm protocols, and minor protections apply.
December 20251 deadline
Social media minimum age obligation applies
Age-restricted platforms must take reasonable steps to prevent under-16s from holding accounts.
October 20251 deadline
SB 243 signed
SB 243 chaptered (ch. 677).
September 20251 deadline
AI content labeling measures and GB 45438-2025 take effect
Explicit and implicit labeling duties for AI-generated content and platform detection duties apply.
July 20251 deadline
Protection of children duties apply
Children's safety duties and Protection of Children Codes take effect, including highly effective age assurance; children's risk assessments due by 24 July 2025.
May 20251 deadline
Criminal provisions effective on enactment
Publishing or threatening to publish non-consensual intimate images, including digital forgeries, became a federal crime upon signature.
April 20251 deadline
Children's access assessments due
Services had to complete children's access assessments to determine whether children are likely to access them.
March 20251 deadline
Illegal harms duties enforceable
Illegal content safety duties apply; illegal content risk assessments had to be completed by 16 March 2025.
February 20241 deadline
- Digital Services ActEuropean Union
DSA applies to all intermediary services
Full application to all providers of intermediary services (Art 93(2)).
October 20231 deadline
Royal Assent
The Online Safety Act receives Royal Assent.
April 20231 deadline
- Digital Services ActEuropean Union
First VLOP/VLOSE designations
Commission designated the first 19 very large online platforms and search engines (e.g. Amazon Store, Facebook, Google Search, TikTok, X). Obligations apply four months after notification.
February 20231 deadline
- Digital Services ActEuropean Union
Platforms publish EU user numbers
Online platforms and search engines had to publish average monthly active EU recipients, and must update them at least every six months (Art 24(2)).
January 20231 deadline
VCDPA takes effect
VCDPA obligations and consumer rights apply.
November 20221 deadline
- Digital Services ActEuropean Union
DSA enters into force
Entered into force twenty days after publication; VLOP designation provisions (Art 33(3)-(6)) and Commission enforcement sections apply from this date (Art 93).