he UK government has today published a draft statement setting out strategic priorities for online safety. The move is a decisive step to enhance digital safety as the concerns with dangerous content on the internet and the defense of vulnerable users continue to escalate.
Draft five key priorities for the communications regulator, Ofcom, for its new Online Safety Act powers. These are:
Inclusivity and Resilience: Ensure that there is a digital environment that is inclusive, informed, and resilient against possible harms such as disinformation.
Child Safety: Develop measures that will protect children from harmful content online.
Transparency: Improve transparency of platform activities so as to inspire trust among users.
Agile Regulation: Adopt a flexible regulatory approach towards emerging digital challenges.
Innovation: Innovation in safety with adherence to the requirements of the digital sector.
Under the Online Safety Act, Ofcom is given the power to fine up to £18 million on firms that neglect to remove harmful content off their platforms. Under this framework, the tech companies are held accountable and therefore ensure a safe online experience for all users.
In addition, the administration has launched research into the health effects of social media and smartphones for children to help determine possible regulations to be implemented in the future regarding protection of young users from digital ills.
While generally welcomed, some critics see overreach and have concerns over implications of this sort to free speech. According to Toby Young, Free Speech Union, the emphasis on inclusivity threatens to scrutinize even controversial posts in a way that subverts Ofcom’s goals for impartiality.
As the draft statement undergoes consultation, stakeholders from various sectors are encouraged to provide input to ensure a balanced approach that effectively addresses online harms while upholding fundamental freedoms.
