Under the #OnlineSafetyBill Ofcom can compel tech firms "to carry out surveillance of the content of communications on a generalised and widespread basis."
These powers don't come with the same safeguards that govern the mass surveillance of comms done by spy agencies under the Investigatory Powers Act.
Matthew Ryder KC raises these concerns in a legal opinion commissioned by Index on Censorship.
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/ofcom-will-get-more-power-than-spies-to-monitor-apps-f6z2zmf95