UK's Internet Watchdog Tightens Approach to Deepfake Porn
Ofcom, the UK's internet safety regulator, has published a new draft guidance aimed at supporting in-scope firms in meeting legal obligations to protect women and girls from online threats like harassment and bullying, misogyny, and intimate image abuse. The government prioritizes protecting women and girls, with certain forms of misogynist abuse explicitly set out as enforcement priorities under the Online Safety Act (OSA). However, critics argue that the regulation is not up to task in reforming platform giants, despite substantial penalties for non-compliance.
- The UK's approach to regulating online harm may serve as a model for other countries struggling with similar issues, but it remains to be seen whether this regulatory framework can effectively address the complex and ever-evolving nature of deepfake technology.
- Will the enforcement of these regulations lead to a significant decrease in the production and distribution of deepfake intimate images, or will they simply push the problem underground?