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The winning essay is ‘Invisible Violence: Restoring the Sight of the Online Safety Act 2023’ by Wasim Iqbal
Brief summary
The Online Safety Act 2023 aims to make the UK ‘the safest place to be online’, yet allows platforms to rely heavily on AI moderation systems to meet their statutory duties. This risks leaving serious harm unrecognised and regulatory enforcement weakened or delayed.
How and why did you pick this topic?
I was struck by the growing reliance on automated systems to assess online harm, without clear visibility over how those decisions are reached.
When the law depends on processes it cannot properly scrutinise, accountability begins to erode. I wanted to examine how this gap arises within the Online Safety Act 2023, and whether greater transparency could be introduced without undermining the Act’s objectives.
The proposal ultimately focused on a simple question with far-reaching consequences: how can the law regulate harm it cannot see?
The full essay is reproduced below.
Wasim Iqbal is the winner of the Bar Council's Law Reform Essay Competition 2025.
Brief summary
The Online Safety Act 2023 aims to make the UK ‘the safest place to be online’, yet allows platforms to rely heavily on AI moderation systems to meet their statutory duties. This risks leaving serious harm unrecognised and regulatory enforcement weakened or delayed.
How and why did you pick this topic?
I was struck by the growing reliance on automated systems to assess online harm, without clear visibility over how those decisions are reached.
When the law depends on processes it cannot properly scrutinise, accountability begins to erode. I wanted to examine how this gap arises within the Online Safety Act 2023, and whether greater transparency could be introduced without undermining the Act’s objectives.
The proposal ultimately focused on a simple question with far-reaching consequences: how can the law regulate harm it cannot see?
The full essay is reproduced below.
The winning essay is ‘Invisible Violence: Restoring the Sight of the Online Safety Act 2023’ by Wasim Iqbal
Far-ranging month for the Chair of the Bar
Endometriosis Awareness North, a charity raising awareness of endometriosis and supporting those affected across the North of England, has received a £500 boost from AlphaBiolabs via the company’s Giving Back initiative
Marie Law, Director of Toxicology at AlphaBiolabs, examines the most recent data on alcohol misuse in the UK, and the implications for alcohol testing in family proceedings
Clement Cowley, Partner at The Penny Group, explains how tailored financial planning can help barristers take control of their finances and plan with confidence
Marie Law, Director of Toxicology at AlphaBiolabs
A £500 donation from AlphaBiolabs has been made to the leading UK charity tackling international parental child abduction and the movement of children across international borders
Seeing the full picture – Baljit Ubhey OBE outlines the CPS action plan to tackle violence against women and girls, offering insights directly relevant to courtroom practice
Heritage as an anchor and a compass, finding our common humanity and embracing the power of the outsider – Melina Antoniadis’s lessons learnt
Is the Judicial Conduct Investigations Office process fit for purpose? Women barristers’ experiences of bullying are not being reported or, if they are, they are not making it through the system, says Tana Adkin KC
Review by Daniel Barnett
Chair of the Bar reports back
