Tech Blog: Update 2nd July 2026

The regulatory direction in the UK continues to favour platforms that can demonstrate thoughtful safety by design.

Ofcom is now well into its 2026 enforcement programme under the Online Safety Act, with providers expected to maintain records, demonstrate compliance, and continue improving age assurance. Ofcom is also due to publish its statutory report on age assurance this month, making July an important milestone for platforms in this space.

What this means for Circles

Your product decisions increasingly look like competitive advantages rather than compliance chores:

• Mandatory ID verification.
• Privacy-first profile controls.
• Mutual invitations instead of open messaging.
• No recording in rooms.
• Moderation built into the platform from day one.

Those choices position Circles as a service designed for trust, not merely one reacting to regulation.