New online safety measures to protect children from ‘toxic algorithms’
New online safety protections for a ‘safer, healthier online world’
- New online safety protections, part of the Online Safety Act, have officially come into force in the UK, aiming to create a "safer, healthier, more humane online world" for children.
- The measures mandate online platforms to implement robust age checks for harmful content and ensure algorithms do not promote such material to children.
- Non-compliant tech companies face significant penalties, including fines of up to £18 million or 10 per cent of their global revenue, and potential blocking of access in the UK.
- Ofcom, the regulator, is tasked with enforcing these rules, with the Technology Secretary Peter Kyle warning firms they will be held accountable.
- While campaigners like NSPCC and Barnardo’s welcome the changes, the Molly Rose Foundation criticises them for a "lack of ambition and accountability," arguing they prioritise big tech over children's safety.