Ofcom, the U.K. Internet regulator, is taking a strong stance on child safety online by cracking down on Instagram, YouTube, and 150,000 other web services. The new Children’s Safety Code aims to improve age verification, filter harmful content, and reduce minors’ access to harmful subjects like suicide, self-harm, and pornography. The Code is currently in draft form and open for feedback until July 17, with enforcement expected to begin next year.
The significance of the Code lies in its potential to force Internet companies to prioritize online safety. The U.K. government’s goal is to make the country the safest place to go online, but critics argue that the law may burden tech firms with compliance costs and restrict access to information.
Failure to comply with the Online Safety Act could result in fines of up to 10% of global annual turnover for violations, as well as criminal liability for senior managers in certain scenarios. The Code emphasizes stronger age verification measures and content moderation, with a focus on removing harmful content and downranking violent material in children’s feeds.
Ofcom’s draft proposal also includes specific rules on how content is handled, with a focus on protecting children from harmful content. The regulator is working with larger social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram to help them design compliance plans.
Overall, the Children’s Safety Code contains over 40 practical steps for web services to ensure child protection is a priority. The goal is to create a safer online experience for children by implementing age checks, content moderation, and governance measures. Ofcom is urging tech firms to be proactive in addressing safety issues to avoid costly consequences once enforcement powers are in place.