Pushing Back on Big Tech: Insights from the UK’s OSA

<p dir="ltr">The growing dominance of social media and Big Tech has intensified concerns over misinformation, polarization, and exploitation driven by profit-focused, addictive algorithms. The UK’s Online Safety Act (OSA) represents a landmark effort to regulate these harms by holding platforms accountable for illegal and dangerous content. However, its approach raises tensions between user safety, privacy, and freedom of expression, particularly through intrusive verification measures and weak data protections. Balancing these competing priorities requires regulation that not only moderates content but also enforces transparency and ethical design in the algorithms shaping online life.</p>