UK Online Safety Act 2025

Unintended Consequences Fuel Fraud and Blackmail Risks

On July 25, 2025, the UK’s Online Safety Act 2023 came into full effect, enforcing stringent age verification measures to protect children from accessing harmful online content. Platforms hosting adult content, social media, gaming services, and dating apps must now verify users are over 18 using methods like facial age estimation, photo ID matching, or digital

System: identity wallets. While the Act aims to create “the safest place in the world to be online,” particularly for children, it has sparked concerns over unintended consequences that could lead to a surge in fraud, identity theft, blackmail, and a potential slide toward authoritarianism.

The Promise and Perils of Age Verification

The Online Safety Act mandates that platforms implement “highly effective” age assurance to restrict access to content deemed harmful, such as pornography, self-harm, or suicide-related material. Ofcom, the UK’s communications regulator, has outlined methods including facial scans, credit card checks, or ID verification, emphasizing minimal data retention to comply with data protection laws. However, these requirements have raised alarms among digital rights experts and privacy advocates, who warn of significant risks to user security.

While the Act’s intent to shield minors is widely supported, its implementation has led to unexpected challenges. Historic or documentary content, often educational or culturally significant, is being inadvertently blocked due to overly broad definitions of “harmful” content. This has sparked debates over freedom of speech, with critics arguing that the Act empowers platforms to over-censor legal content to avoid hefty fines—up to £18 million or 10% of global revenue.

A Breeding Ground for Fraud

The real threat, however, lies not in censorship but in the potential for fraud. The requirement to submit personal identification, such as a driving license or passport, to access certain websites creates a fertile ground for malicious actors. Cybersecurity experts warn that fraudulent websites, disguised as legitimate platforms, could exploit this mandate by enticing users with clickbait—promising exclusive content or sensational headlines. Once users arrive, they are prompted to upload sensitive personal information, including IDs, addresses, and even biometric data like facial scans.

These “honeypots” for identity theft pose a severe risk. Stolen IDs can be used to open bank accounts, take out loans, or commit other forms of financial fraud. The recent Tea app hack, which exposed user data, underscores the vulnerability of platforms handling sensitive information. With the Online Safety Act mandating ID verification across a wide range of services—from social media to niche forums—the attack surface for cybercriminals has expanded dramatically.

The Darker Threat: Blackmail

Beyond financial fraud, a darker consequence looms: blackmail. Fraudulent sites can track and record users’ browsing habits, linking them directly to their verified identities. This creates a perfect storm for extortion schemes, particularly for users accessing sensitive or stigmatized content, such as adult material. Unlike traditional scams, these sites could leverage the shame associated with exposure to coerce victims into paying hush money. Experts fear that victims, fearing social or professional repercussions, may pay silently rather than report the crime, leaving perpetrators unchecked.

The UK’s National Crime Agency and organizations like the NSPCC have championed the Act for its focus on child safety, but they have not addressed how it might enable such predatory schemes. The combination of mandatory ID submission and content tracking creates a chilling effect, where users’ private behaviors are no longer anonymous, making them vulnerable to exploitation.

Parental Responsibility: A Critical Balance

While the state plays a vital role in enacting laws to prevent harm, the responsibility for protecting children cannot rest solely on government intervention. Historically, banned or restricted content—such as adult magazines or comics—was accessible to younger audiences, and it fell to parents to monitor and address such exposure. Today, the digital landscape has amplified these challenges, but the principle remains: parents must take an active role in safeguarding their children.

Relying exclusively on the Online Safety Act to shield minors risks fostering a culture of complacency. Parents have a fundamental responsibility to understand what their children are viewing, how much time they spend on devices, and to set appropriate boundaries. This includes using parental control tools, engaging in open conversations about online risks, and teaching children to critically evaluate content. The state can support these efforts through public awareness campaigns, as seen in Ofcom’s initiatives to educate families about online risks. However, expecting quick legislative fixes without societal and parental involvement is unsustainable.

The Act should complement, not replace, parental oversight. By empowering parents with knowledge and tools—rather than outsourcing responsibility to platforms or regulators—society can foster a more resilient approach to online safety. Ultimately, protecting children requires a collective effort where parents, communities, and the state work in tandem.

Public Backlash and Privacy Concerns

The Act has faced significant pushback, with over 450,000 Brits signing a petition to repeal it, citing threats to privacy, security, and free speech. The surge in VPN usage since July 25 reflects public unease, as users seek to bypass age verification checks to protect their anonymity. This has led to a proliferation of VPN companies, many of which are newly formed and lack transparency about their data practices. The integrity of these providers is often unclear, raising concerns about how they handle user data, including browsing histories and IP addresses, which could be sold or misused.

Moreover, the widespread adoption of VPNs, now a standard feature in mainstream browsers like Mozilla Firefox and Opera, complicates enforcement of the Act. This trend could prompt the government to consider banning or restricting VPNs, a move that would mark a dangerous step toward authoritarianism. Such legislation would further erode online privacy and freedom, setting a precedent for broader surveillance and control. Critics warn that the Online Safety Act, by driving users to seek workarounds, is already paving a slippery road toward more restrictive policies.

Digital rights groups like the Electronic Frontier Foundation have criticized the Act, warning that it risks creating a “surveillance-industrial complex” by mandating identity checks that could be abused by governments or corporations. The requirement for platforms to store biometric hashes or integrate third-party verification vendors heightens the risk of data breaches, as seen in past incidents like the 16 billion password leak reported in 2025. The Wikimedia Foundation’s legal challenge against its potential designation as a “Category 1” service further underscores fears that even non-profit platforms like Wikipedia could be forced to collect user data, compromising their open models.

A Path Forward?

While the Act’s goal of protecting children is commendable, its unintended consequences demand urgent attention. To mitigate fraud and blackmail risks, experts suggest stricter oversight of third-party age verification providers and VPN companies, ensuring they adhere to robust data protection standards. Ofcom could refine its guidance to exempt non-commercial or public interest platforms, reducing the scope of mandatory ID checks. Users are advised to exercise caution, avoiding lesser-known sites requesting ID uploads and using reputable VPNs or privacy-focused tools to safeguard their data.

The UK government insists it has “no plans to repeal the Online Safety Act,” but the growing public outcry, skyrocketing VPN usage, and potential for authoritarian measures signal a need for reform. Without addressing these vulnerabilities, the Act risks not only failing to protect users but also enabling a new wave of cybercrime and surveillance. By balancing robust legislation with parental responsibility, public education, and respect for privacy, the UK can work toward a safer digital environment without compromising fundamental freedoms.

Sources: McAfee Blog, Electronic Frontier Foundation, GOV.UK, TechRadar, The Guardian, WIRED, nym.com

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