UK Asks Social Media Firms to Assess Online Risks by March 31
Britain's media regulator Ofcom has set a March 31 deadline for social media and other online platforms to submit a risk assessment around the likelihood of users encountering illegal content on their sites. The Online Safety Act requires companies like Meta, Facebook, Instagram, and ByteDance's TikTok to take action against criminal activity and make their platforms safer. These firms must assess and mitigate risks related to terrorism, hate crime, child sexual exploitation, financial fraud, and other offences.
- This deadline highlights the increasingly complex task of policing online content, where the blurring of lines between legitimate expression and illicit activity demands more sophisticated moderation strategies.
- What steps will regulators like Ofcom take to address the power imbalance between social media companies and governments in regulating online safety and security?