Tackling online harms
Keeping people safe online and ensuring social media companies are accountable for content published on their platforms has proven a headache for lawmakers, who have been desperately trying to keep up with the pace of technology.
Essex Law School's Professor Lorna Woods worked with colleagues within the legal industry to devise a duty of care framework that laid the foundations for the landmark Online Safety Act (OSA).
The Act was passed in 2023 and helps protect people from a range of harmful online content, such as child sexual abuse, controlling or coercive behaviour, and material promoting suicide or self-harm.
From humble beginnings
The concept of a duty of care framework that would eventually lead to landmark new laws was actually conceived on the back of a sandwich packet.
Professor Woods and former advisor to UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, William Perrin, made the scribblings during a discussion on what could be done to better regulate the internet.
It was the catalyst for a series of blog posts, published by Carnegie Trust in 2018, which would bring the issue of internet safety into both the public and political debate.
It shifted the entire conversation around internet safety, ensuring there is a more proactive and preventive stance based on a systems approach to regulation and safety by design.
The Daily Telegraph launched its Duty of Care campaign off the back of the work done by Professors Woods and Mr Perrin in 2018.
A year later, the Labour Party incorporated the recommendations made by the duo into its proposed Digital Bill of Rights, before the Conservative Government proposed a duty of care in its plans to tackle online harms, overseen by an independent regulator.
With momentum building, Professor Woods was awarded an OBE in 2020 in recognition of her relentless pursuit of better internet safety, and continued to be at the heart of the legislation process to ensure her vision would become reality.
Speaking at the time, Professor Woods said: “I am delighted, if a little surprised, by this honour.
“Recent events have raised new concerns about the role of social media. The need for a statutory duty of care, overseen by an independent regulator, is not going away. In fact, it is more urgent than ever."
Turning ideas into law
It wasn't until 2022 that the Online Safety Bill was first introduced to Parliament.
Professor Woods continued to play a key role in its passage through Parliament, taking part in numerous evidence sessions with MPs.
She also continued to share her expertise with civil servants, charities and other experts involved in turning the bill into law.
Key changes to the Act influenced by Professor Woods included the requirement for Ofcom to produce guidance on the position of women and girls online, based on work with charities like the NSPCC, Refuge, End Violence Against Women.
She also played a role in the expansion of the scope of additional obligations placed on large services to include small but risky services like suicide forums; and ensuring the independence of Ofcom.
Professor Woods' vision and input have been described in the House of Lords as “key to the initial development of the duty of care approach”.
It wasn't until the autumn of 2023 that the bill passed through the Lords and was officially given Royal Assent.
What is the Online Safety Act?
The Act essentially brings Professor Woods' duty of care concept into reality by placing responsibilities on social media companies and search services to ensure the safety of platform users.
It requires companies to implement systems and processes that reduce the risk of seeing illegal activity on their platforms. They must also act to ensure that harmful content that is posted is removed.
Illegal content covered by the Act includes child sexual abuse, promoting or facilitating suicide and inciting violence.
Media watchdog Ofcom will play a key role in working with social media companies to ensure they have the correct procedures in place to tackle or prevent harmful content.
In July 2025, Tyler Webb became the first person in the UK to be jailed under the Online Safety Act for encouraging a woman to take her own life.
"It is Professor Woods’ innovative thinking that underpins this new approach. It is now up to the Government to ensure the new regime delivers as intended.”
William Perrin
More work to do
Professor Woods has continued to support the implementation of the OSA by working with the Online Safety Act Network.
She has provided numerous responses to public consultations on
the implementation of the new laws and supported civil society actors in their responses to the Act.
Professor Woods would be the first to admit the Act may not yet go far enough and more laws are needed to bring her original vision of internet safety to reality.
But the legislation has provided much-needed clarity on the duties and responsibilities of internet platforms and social media companies, ensuring they have robust measures in place to
prevent and clamp down on harmful content.
The legacy of Professor Woods's work will stand strong for decades to come and has been recognised at the highest level in Parliament, where she has been singled out for praise in the House of Lords on a number of occasions.
"I pay my own tribute to Carnegie UK, especially Will Perrin, Maeve Walsh and Professor Lorna Woods, for having the vision five years ago as to what was possible around the construction of a duty of care and for being by our side throughout the creation of this Bill."
Professor Woods's work is now inspiring action from lawmakers around the globe who themselves are battling to keep up with the pace of technological change.
The model first drawn up by her and Mr Perrin is being discussed in the likes of Canada, Australia, Malaysia and Brazil, and Professor Woods's expertise are now sought in these jurisdictions too.
Find out more
Essex Law School
Essex Law School has a global reputation for its research, particularly in the areas of Human rights law and practice, Business law, Public law, Criminal justice, Health law, Law and technology and Social-legal studies.
The Duty of Care project
The University of Essex is delighted to host the rich archive of materials produced by Professor Woods and colleagues, to address the need for greater protections for users of social media and other online platforms.
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