Many experts, technologists, politicians, and everyday users have already raised concerns about the negative effects these checks could pose for people's online privacy, security, free speech, and access to information. Yet, age verification is only one part of the 300-page-long Online Safety Act.

Wikipedia has lost a legal challenge to new Online Safety Act rules which it says could threaten the human rights and safety of its volunteer editors. The Wikimedia Foundation - the non-profit which supports the online encyclopaedia - wanted a judicial review of regulations which could mean Wikipedia has to verify the identities of its users.

The operator of Wikipedia on Monday lost a legal challenge to parts of Britain's Online Safety Act, which sets tough new requirements for online platforms but has been criticised for potentially curtailing free speech.