{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/online-safety-act-2023/section-233",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/online-safety-act-2023/section-233.json",
  "legislation": "ukpga/2023/50",
  "legislation_title": "Online Safety Act 2023",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/online-safety-act-2023",
  "path": "section/233",
  "kind": "section",
  "number": "233",
  "heading": "“Functionality”",
  "text": "(1) In this Act “functionality”, in relation to a user-to-user service, includes any feature that enables interactions of any description between users of the service by means of the service, and includes any feature enabling a user to do anything listed in subsection (2).\n(2) The things are—\n(a) creating a user profile, including an anonymous or pseudonymous profile;\n(b) searching within the service for user-generated content or other users of the service;\n(c) forwarding content to, or sharing content with, other users of the service;\n(d) sharing content on other internet services;\n(e) sending direct messages to or speaking to other users of the service, or interacting with them in another way (for example by playing a game);\n(f) expressing a view on content, including, for example, by—\n(i) applying a “like” or “dislike” button or other button of that nature,\n(ii) applying an emoji or symbol of any kind,\n(iii) engaging in yes/no voting, or\n(iv) rating or scoring content in any way (including giving star or numerical ratings);\n(g) sharing current or historic location information with other users of the service, recording a user’s movements, or identifying which other users of the service are nearby;\n(h) following or subscribing to particular kinds of content or particular users of the service;\n(i) creating lists, collections, archives or directories of content or users of the service;\n(j) tagging or labelling content present on the service;\n(k) uploading content relating to goods or services;\n(l) applying or changing settings on the service which affect the presentation of user-generated content on the service;\n(m) accessing other internet services through content present on the service (for example through hyperlinks).\n(3) In this Act “functionality”, in relation to a search service, includes (in particular)—\n(a) a feature that enables users to search websites or databases;\n(b) a feature that makes suggestions relating to users’ search requests (predictive search functionality).\n(4) In this section “user-generated content” has the meaning given by section 55 (see subsections (3) and (4) of that section).",
  "extent": "E+W+S+N.I.",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "I",
      "label": "I1",
      "text": "S. 233 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 240(z5)"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/50/section/233",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T08:51:47.656361+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
  "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
}