Ofcom’s Draft Codes of Practice: Safeguarding Online Spaces for All

The UK’s Ofcom Outlines Draft Codes of Practice for Enforcing Online Safety

The UK’s communications regulator, Ofcom, has recently released draft codes of practice and guidance for social media, gaming, pornography, search, and sharing sites. This development comes in the wake of the Online Safety Act, which came into force last month. The act aims to maintain a safe online environment by keeping websites and internet-based services free of illegal and harmful material while also upholding freedom of expression.

Under the draft codes of practice, companies operating these platforms will be required to assess the risk of users being harmed by illegal content and take appropriate steps to minimize these potential harms. Ofcom has outlined a core list of measures that services can adopt to mitigate the risk of all types of illegal harm.

Accountability and Moderation

One of the key measures proposed by Ofcom is the appointment of a named person accountable to the most senior governance body of the company for compliance with content regulations. This ensures that there is a clear responsibility for maintaining safety standards. Additionally, companies are urged to ensure that their content and search moderation teams are well-resourced and trained, with regular monitoring of performance targets and progress towards them.

User Reporting and Safety Tests

Ofcom emphasizes the importance of user reporting mechanisms in identifying potentially harmful content. Companies are expected to provide easy-to-use reporting tools that allow users to report such content, make complaints, block other users, and disable comments. Furthermore, the regulator suggests running safety tests for recommender algorithms to ensure that they do not inadvertently promote harmful or illegal content.

Protecting Children Online

Given the specific vulnerability of children online, Ofcom’s draft codes of practice place additional responsibilities on larger and higher-risk services, particularly social media platforms. These platforms are advised to make children’s accounts invisible from suggested friends and connections lists, as well as hide their location information. Moreover, accounts outside a child’s connection list should not be able to send them direct messages.

Combatting Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM)

Ofcom proposes that larger and higher-risk services utilize “hash matching” technology to identify and remove child sexual abuse material (CSAM). This involves comparing content on their platforms to a database of known illegal images. Additionally, platforms are encouraged to employ automated tools to detect URLs that have been identified as hosting CSAM, further enhancing their ability to combat this heinous crime.

Addressing Crisis Prevention and Tackling Fraud and Terrorism

Ofcom’s draft codes of practice also address other significant concerns. It suggests that all large general search services should provide crisis prevention information in response to search requests related to suicide and queries seeking information on suicide methods. Additionally, larger and higher-risk services will be required to deploy keyword detection to find and remove posts linked to the sale of stolen credentials, such as credit card details, and block accounts run by proscribed terrorist organizations.

Consultation and Implementation

Ofcom is currently in the process of consulting with industry experts and other stakeholders before finalizing the codes of practice. The final version is expected to be published in autumn 2024. Following publication, services will have three months to conduct their risk assessment and ensure compliance. The final Codes of Practice will then be subject to Parliamentary approval.

Ofcom’s CEO, Dame Melanie Dawes, emphasizes that the regulator’s role is not that of a censor. Instead, the focus is on addressing the root causes of harm by setting new standards and requiring firms to design their services with safety in mind. The aim is to strike a balance between safety, privacy, and free expression, ensuring a safer online environment for all.

Overall, the draft codes of practice outlined by Ofcom provide a comprehensive framework for enforcing online safety in the UK. By placing responsibilities on companies and providing guidelines for mitigating risks, the aim is to create a safer digital space while upholding the principles of freedom of expression.

The Impact of Ofcom’s Draft Codes of Practice for Enforcing Online Safety

The draft codes of practice outlined by Ofcom for enforcing online safety in the UK are expected to have a significant impact on various aspects of the digital landscape. These measures aim to create a safer online environment while upholding freedom of expression. The effect of these codes can be observed in several key areas.

Enhanced Accountability and Moderation

One of the immediate effects of the draft codes of practice is the increased accountability and moderation of online platforms. By requiring companies to appoint a named person accountable for compliance with content regulations, there will be a clear responsibility for maintaining safety standards. This will ensure that platforms prioritize the well-being of their users and take active measures to mitigate potential harms.

Furthermore, the emphasis on well-resourced and trained content and search moderation teams, along with regular monitoring of performance targets, will lead to more effective content moderation. This will help in identifying and removing illegal and harmful content promptly, creating a safer online space for users.

Empowering Users and Reporting Mechanisms

The draft codes of practice also aim to empower users by providing them with the tools to report potentially harmful content easily. By ensuring that users can report such content, make complaints, block other users, and disable comments, individuals will have a greater sense of control over their online experiences. This will contribute to a more positive and secure online environment.

Protecting Children Online

One of the significant effects of the draft codes of practice is the enhanced protection of children online. By making children’s accounts invisible from suggested friends and connections lists and hiding their location information, social media platforms will reduce the risk of children being targeted by malicious individuals. Additionally, preventing accounts outside a child’s connection list from sending them direct messages adds an extra layer of protection.

Combatting Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM)

The draft codes of practice address the critical issue of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) by proposing the use of “hash matching” technology. This technology will enable platforms to identify and remove CSAM by comparing content on their platforms to a database of known illegal images. By employing automated tools to detect URLs hosting CSAM, platforms will be able to take swift action in removing such content and preventing its dissemination.

Addressing Crisis Prevention and Tackling Fraud and Terrorism

Another effect of the draft codes of practice is the focus on crisis prevention and the fight against fraud and terrorism. By requiring large general search services to provide crisis prevention information in response to search requests related to suicide, individuals seeking help or information will have access to vital resources. Additionally, the deployment of keyword detection to find and remove posts linked to the sale of stolen credentials and block accounts associated with proscribed terrorist organizations will contribute to a safer online environment.

Future Implementation and Compliance

As Ofcom consults with industry experts and stakeholders, the final version of the codes of practice will be published in autumn 2024. Following publication, services will have three months to conduct their risk assessment and ensure compliance. The implementation of these codes will lead to a more regulated and safer online space for users in the UK.

Overall, the effect of Ofcom’s draft codes of practice for enforcing online safety is expected to result in a more accountable, user-centric, and secure digital environment. By setting new standards and requiring companies to prioritize safety, these measures aim to strike a balance between protecting individuals from harm and upholding the principles of freedom of expression.