UK’s New Online Safety Law: The Unintended Casualty of Urban Dead
You might have heard about the UK’s new Online Safety Act, which is trying to make the internet a safer place. But did you know that this law has accidentally shut down a popular game that’s been around for over 20 years? Let’s find out more about this surprising story.
What’s the Online Safety Act?
The Online Safety Act is a new law in the UK that wants to protect people from harmful things they might see or do online. It makes rules for companies that provide digital services, like social media or search engines. These companies have to check for and stop illegal or harmful content. If they don’t, they could be fined a lot of money.
How did this law affect Urban Dead?
Urban Dead is a game where you play as a survivor or a zombie in a city full of danger. It’s been around since 2005 and is played in your web browser. You might think it’s an odd target for this law, but the act’s rules are quite broad. The game’s community-driven nature and user-generated content might have raised concerns about harmful or illegal content slipping through without being checked.
What does this mean for other online games and platforms?
The shutdown of Urban Dead isn’t an isolated incident. It shows that the Online Safety Act is taking a close look at all kinds of online platforms. This means that other games and services, especially smaller ones, might also need to make changes to follow the new rules.
Ofcom’s new powers
Ofcom, the UK’s communications regulator, now has more power to make sure these rules are followed. They can ask for information, do checks, and even remotely look at algorithms to see if platforms are safe and compliant.
What’s next?
The Online Safety Act is a big change in how the internet is regulated in the UK. While it’s meant to protect people, it also means that online services have to work hard to follow the new rules. As the internet keeps changing, it’s important for these services to adapt to stay safe and legal.
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