Regulation
Articles
May 13, 2025
Yoti responds to the Draft Statement of Strategic Priorities for online safety
Last week, the Department of Science, Innovation and Technology, published the final draft Strategic Priorities for online safety. We welcome the statement, which highlights the five areas the government believes should be prioritised for creating a safer online environment. These areas are: safety by design, transparency and accountability, agile regulation, inclusivity and resilience, and technology and innovation. These priorities will guide Ofcom as it enforces the Online Safety Act, ensuring platforms stay accountable and users are protected. We welcome this clear direction and commitment from the government to create safer online spaces. It’s positive that age assurance has been
Articles
May 08, 2025
Understanding the UK’s new Data Bill
The Data (Use and Access) Bill, known more simply as the “Data Bill”, is a landmark piece of UK legislation that aims to reshape how individuals and businesses interact with digital data. It will introduce provisions for a national digital identity trust framework, helping to foster trust in digital identities by ensuring that businesses adhere to strict standards during digital transactions. This blog gives an overview of the Data Bill and what this means for digital identities in the UK. Why has the Government introduced the Data Bill? The Government has said that the Bill will “unlock the
Articles
Apr 29, 2025
Complying with Ofcom’s Protection of Children Codes: what you need to know about age assurance
With children’s online engagement at an all-time high, the UK government passed the Online Safety Act in 2023, aiming to make the UK ‘the safest place in the world to be online’. It places legal obligations on online services to prioritise user safety, particularly for children. As the UK’s communications regulator, Ofcom plays a pivotal role in enforcing the Act’s provisions. As part of phase two of the Act’s implementation, Ofcom published its Protection of Children Codes of Practice on 24th April 2025. Made up of over 40 practical measures, they outline how digital platforms must safeguard younger users
Articles
Feb 27, 2025
The Government announces identity checks for online knife sales
The UK Government is tightening regulations on online knife sales to prevent underage access and enhance public safety. As part of this, the Home Office has published an independent report by the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC). The report explores the current practices in the market and sets out some recommendations for how to strengthen online knife sales. Here’s a snapshot of some of the proposed changes: Report suspicious purchases: retailers will need to report suspicious purchases to the police. Increased penalties and jail sentences: penalties for selling knives to under-18s will increase from 6 months to up to
Articles
Feb 12, 2025
An overview of the COPPA updates (and what it means for your business)
The United States Federal Trade Commission has released its updates to the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) Rule. It aims to strengthen key privacy protections for children online and better reflect the challenges faced in the modern digital age. The updates introduce stricter requirements for the collection, use and sharing of children’s data. However, it’s worth noting that the rule doesn’t include an explicit exception for the use of children’s personal information solely for age verification. This complicates compliance for platforms that wish to implement more robust age checking than self-declaration. Yoti is ready to assist companies with
Articles
Feb 10, 2025
Age assurance for online knife sales
At the end of January, the UK Government announced they will introduce stricter age checks for online knife sales. Buyers will need to submit a copy of their photo ID, such as a driving licence, as well as proof of address, such as a utility bill. The same person who bought the knife will have to show ID again on delivery, and no knife packages can be left on the doorstep. These measures are part of the upcoming Crime and Policing Bill, expected to be introduced in Parliament this Spring. While knife crime is a key focus of the