UK elections test new Online Safety Act as Reform UK surges ahead
Elections will take place across England, Wales, and Scotland on May 7. The vote comes as the UK’s Online Safety Act takes full effect for the first time, introducing stricter rules on digital content. Polls suggest major shifts in power, with Reform UK and Plaid Cymru gaining ground in different regions. The new Online Safety Act, now fully enforced, requires platforms to tackle harmful content—including AI-generated fakes that could interfere with elections. Ofcom, the UK’s media regulator, has hired over 500 extra staff to handle the increased workload. Mark Scott, a contributing editor at Tech Policy Press and former member of Ofcom’s Online Information Advisory Committee, has followed these developments closely.
Early polling indicates Reform UK, led by Nigel Farage, will make significant gains in England. Meanwhile, in Wales, Plaid Cymru is leading in the polls. Scotland’s Scottish National Party remains the favourite to retain power, despite challenges from other parties.
Labour, however, appears set for a heavy defeat. The party faces losses across multiple regions as voters shift toward Reform UK and smaller nationalist groups. The May 7 elections will test the impact of the Online Safety Act on campaigning and public debate. With Reform UK and Plaid Cymru rising in influence, the results could reshape political power in England and Wales. The SNP’s continued dominance in Scotland suggests stability there, despite broader UK-wide shifts.
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