Ofcom’s new Protection of Children Codes to protect children online under the Online Safety Act have now come into effect, with Ofcom having power to penalise and hold to account those platforms who do not abide by these rules. Under the Codes, platforms must have highly effective and robust age verification methods, and ensure that harmful and illegal content is not being shown to under-18s. We hope to see Ofcom using its wide range of powers to enforce the new codes.
About time!! Tech companies have the capabilities to protect children and need to be doing much more than they are. As Chris Sherwood said, Ofcom need to use their powers to come down hard on companies that aren’t doing enough. Let’s hope this makes the internet a safer place for children.
🚀 Exciting update
Great to see Ofcom’s new rules to protect children online finally coming into effect. Strong age checks and proper safeguards are long overdue. Hopefully this means real accountability for platforms and a safer internet for kids.🤞🏼
Absolutely!, online safety is a collaborative effort.
Very pleased to see this statement but also a bit sad that well over 15 years ago I can remember drafting almost identical statements when working for the NSPCC and trying to get international co-operation on children’s safety on the internet off the ground. Back then all the big internet providers were making the same positive noises!
No child deserves to be hurt by the internet Or come across something they can’t forget No child deserves to manipulated by someone or something unknown Or made to do things because they are alone It’s important that our children are protected and the correct safeguards put in place Over to Ofcom to ensure the World Wide Web is a safe space NSPCC
Thanks for sharing
Early Childhood Professional, Early Childhood Technology, AI tools, Online Safety, Advisor
5dNSPCC whilst I welcome this we have recently heard in the last few days, companies signing up to VPNS to trick Ofcom into thinking they are operating outside of the UK. How are we going to tackle this, do we need to penalize VPN companies if we find that their uses are breaking the new code using their systems? It's alarming how quickly organisations find a back door to get out of following rules with no regards to children's safety! Sue Atkins Alex Dave katy potts Parven Kaur Internet Matters Common Sense Media