# Online Safety Act 2023, Section 233: “Functionality”

Extent: E+W+S+N.I.

(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).
(2) The things are—
(a) creating a user profile, including an anonymous or pseudonymous profile;
(b) searching within the service for user-generated content or other users of the service;
(c) forwarding content to, or sharing content with, other users of the service;
(d) sharing content on other internet services;
(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);
(f) expressing a view on content, including, for example, by—
(i) applying a “like” or “dislike” button or other button of that nature,
(ii) applying an emoji or symbol of any kind,
(iii) engaging in yes/no voting, or
(iv) rating or scoring content in any way (including giving star or numerical ratings);
(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;
(h) following or subscribing to particular kinds of content or particular users of the service;
(i) creating lists, collections, archives or directories of content or users of the service;
(j) tagging or labelling content present on the service;
(k) uploading content relating to goods or services;
(l) applying or changing settings on the service which affect the presentation of user-generated content on the service;
(m) accessing other internet services through content present on the service (for example through hyperlinks).
(3) In this Act “functionality”, in relation to a search service, includes (in particular)—
(a) a feature that enables users to search websites or databases;
(b) a feature that makes suggestions relating to users’ search requests (predictive search functionality).
(4) In this section “user-generated content” has the meaning given by section 55 (see subsections (3) and (4) of that section).

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Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/50/section/233 (the official version)
Page: https://openlegislation.uk/online-safety-act-2023/section-233
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.