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Ofcom Issues Guidance on Tech Platforms to Tackle Online Grooming

By Chris Vallance
Technology reporter, BBC News
6 minutes ago

Image source, Getty Images

Ofcom’s recent guidance urges social media platforms to combat online grooming by making changes to suggest that children should not be added as “friends” by default. This marks Ofcom’s first step in promoting compliance with the Online Safety Act and their determination to tackle illegal content, including child abuse online. The publication of this draft code of practice covers various activities such as child sexual abuse material, grooming, and fraud, and aims to gather opinions from tech platforms on its proposed plans.

According to Ofcom, over a tenth of 11-18 year-olds have reported receiving nude or semi-nude images. The guidance outlines specific requirements for tech platforms, including changing default settings to exclude children from suggested friends lists, preventing the disclosure of a child’s location information, and ensuring that children cannot receive messages from individuals not on their contacts list. Additionally, these platforms must prioritize providing appropriate resources to content moderation teams.

In an effort to detect CSAM, Ofcom will require some platforms to use hash-matching technology that converts image into numbers and compares that with a database of numbers generated by known CSAM images. This method is already widely used by social media platforms and search engines. Despite these measures, private or encrypted messages are exempt from this hashing process. Ofcom stresses that it is not proposing anything that would compromise encryption in its current guidelines.

When it comes to privacy and encryption, Chief Executive Dame Melanie Dawes addressed the possibility of enforcing powers that could be used to force private messaging apps to scan messages for CSAM. Not until 2024 and unlikely to come into force until around 2025, these powers have sparked intense debate within the tech industry. Some major apps have adamantly refused to comply with the scanning of encrypted messages, citing concerns that it would undermine the privacy and security of their systems.

Of the challenges facing Ofcom, the wide range of services that will potentially be subjected to regulation, and the resources needed for effective implementation are at the forefront. Over 100,000 services, many outside the UK, and an estimated 20,000 small businesses may need to comply with the Online Safety Act. Dame Melanie acknowledged the enormity of the task but stressed that the regulatory body is “absolutely up for the task” and is “really excited that they’re launching today.”

However, no matter the actions taken, Ofcom acknowledges that it will not be able to please everyone, as it aims to strike a balance between imposing regulations on tech platforms and ensuring these actions are backed by evidence and facts. In light of this, they have disavowed the notion that harmful content should be reported directly to the regulatory body, emphasizing that it is the responsibility of tech firms to have effective systems for users to report illegal or harmful content.

AI legalese decoder can help navigate through the numerous requirements and guidelines outlined by Ofcom to ensure compliance with the Online Safety Act. It can assist in understanding the technical jargon and code of practice, making it easier for tech platforms to implement the necessary changes to prevent online grooming and combat illegal content. With AI legalese decoder‘s support, companies can ensure that they are meeting the stringent demands while also safeguarding the privacy and security of their systems.

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