UK AI Chatbot OSA Extension
UK Crime and Policing Bill - AI Chatbot Online Safety Act Extension
Amends the Crime and Policing Bill to bring standalone AI chatbot providers (ChatGPT, Grok, Gemini, etc.) within scope of Online Safety Act illegal content duties, closing the loophole where AI-only chatbots were exempt from OSA.
Jurisdiction
United Kingdom
Enacted
Pending
Effective
TBD
Enforcement
Ofcom
Announced by PM Starmer on February 16, 2026 as amendment to Crime and Policing Bill. Bill passing through parliamentary process. Amendment extends Online Safety Act duties to standalone AI chatbot providers.
UK GovernmentWhy It Matters
Closes the most significant regulatory gap in UK online safety law by extending OSA duties to standalone AI chatbots. Major implications for any AI chatbot operator serving UK users.
Recent Developments
Announced February 16, 2026 by PM Keir Starmer following Grok deepfake scandal where the chatbot generated non-consensual sexualized images. Baroness Kidron also proposed separate amendments. Bill passing through Parliament.
At a Glance
Applies to
Harms addressed
Who Must Comply
- Standalone AI chatbot providers
- AI systems that generate content (not just user-to-user platforms)
Safety Provisions
- AI chatbot providers must comply with Online Safety Act illegal content duties
- Same regulatory framework as user-to-user platforms applied to AI systems
- Ofcom empowered to regulate AI chatbot providers
- Examination of children's AI chatbot use restrictions
Compliance & Enforcement
Penalties
£18M or 10% revenue (whichever higher); license revocation
View on map
United Kingdom
Focus Areas
Cite This
APA
United Kingdom. (n.d.). UK Crime and Policing Bill - AI Chatbot Online Safety Act Extension.
Related Regulations
UK OSA
One of the most comprehensive platform content moderation regimes globally. Creates specific duties around suicide, self-harm, and eating disorder content for children with 'highly effective' age assurance requirements.
Ofcom Children's Codes
Ofcom codes requiring user-to-user services and search services to protect children from harmful content including suicide, self-harm, and eating disorder content. Explicitly covers AI chatbots that enable content sharing between users. Requires detection technology, content moderation, and recommender system controls.
Children's Digital Wellbeing
UK government consultation on restricting children's access to AI chatbots, banning addictive design features like infinite scrolling and auto-play, and potentially setting age restrictions for social media. Would amend the Crime and Policing Bill to bring AI chatbot providers under Online Safety Act duties.
AU Online Safety Act
Grants eSafety Commissioner powers to issue removal notices with 24-hour compliance. Basic Online Safety Expectations (BOSE) formalize baseline safety governance requirements.
AU OSA Phase 2 Codes
Phase 2 industry codes under Australia's Online Safety Act extending age-restricted material obligations to AI companion chatbots, generative AI services, search engines, app stores, and gaming platforms. Requires robust age assurance, prohibits AI-generated sexually explicit conversations with minors, and mandates suicide/self-harm content safeguards.
Brazil ECA Digital
Comprehensive child digital safety law applying to any IT product or service directed at or likely to be accessed by minors in Brazil, with extraterritorial reach.
Last updated March 23, 2026. Verify against primary sources before relying on this information.