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Ofcom Imposes New Online Safety Rules on Tech Firms, Fines Up to 10% of Turnover

Dec 16, 2024, 09:41 AM

The UK's internet regulator, Ofcom, has introduced the first set of final guidelines for online service providers under the Online Safety Act, marking a significant step in regulating online content. Tech companies, ranging from tech giants to very small services, are now required to assess and mitigate risks associated with illegal content, including terrorism, hate speech, child sexual abuse, and fraud, by March 16, 2025. Failure to comply could result in fines up to 10% of global annual turnover or £18 million, whichever is greater. Ofcom CEO Melanie Dawes emphasized the need for platforms to change how algorithms work to prevent the spread of illegal content and to ensure children's accounts are set to private. The codes of practice also mandate easier reporting mechanisms, the use of hash-matching and URL detection for identifying child sexual abuse material, and the removal of accounts associated with proscribed terrorist organizations. Senior executives could be held accountable for non-compliance. Further measures to enhance child safety, including age verification and tackling content related to pornography, suicide, and self-harm, are expected to be introduced in 2025.