Emerging issues Additional issues Virtual reality/metaverse Ofcom has published its consultation functionality in communal on protecting people from illegal online spaces. content online, and an overview Games with built-in livestreaming and quick guides for online services functionality, forums, marketplaces setting out ‘what you need to know’ or other platforms which facilitate to help them understand the first user-to-user interactions. steps, with further consultations to follow. Limited functionality services which only allow user-generated content Understanding whether and to in the form of posting/sharing what extent you are in scope, comments or reviews relating to assessing risk to users and putting in content published by or on behalf place mitigation measures together of the service providers, or applying with processes to comply with safety emojis and similar expressions of duties will be crucial. This is not opinion are exempt. least because of Ofcom’s extensive enforcement powers. All in-scope services will need to comply with a range of obligations, In-scope service providers have including risk assessment and some time to prepare for full mitigation, protecting users from compliance but should be assessing illegal content and child users from what they will need to do. It’s also certain harmful content, operating worth remembering that the UK complaints processes, reporting and isn’t the only country attempting record-keeping. Most businesses will to regulate the online environment. also need to make changes to their The EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA), terms of service. Larger services that for example, covers similar but pose risks of several different types different ground. Game businesses of harm are subject to the most impacted by both sets of legislation onerous obligations. will face a particularly complex set of compliance challenges. 153