Comply with child age checks or face consequences, Ofcom tells tech firms
Technology firms have been warned to move or face results as new online security guards for children entered into force.
As of Friday, “risky” sites and applications will be expected to use as “highly effective” age controls to determine which users are children and then use other harmful content, including harm, suicide, eating disorders and excessive violence.
However, some online security campaigns, although new measures should be “Basin Moment for Young people ,, said that regulator Ofcom“ disappointed ”and chose to prioritize the business needs of big technology in child safety”.
Molly Rose Foundation, 14 -year -old daughter Molly’s social media by seeing harmful content on the Molly Rose Foundation established after receiving its own life, said the lack of ambition and accountability of changes and warned that Big Teh will take notes.
In the face of the criticism of the campaigns, Dame Melanie Dawes, General Manager of Ofcom, previously defended reforms and insisted that technology companies have not been given much power on new measures that have come into force as part of the online security law.
The changes to be applied throughout the UK includes age checks on pornography websites, such as Dating App Grindr, saying that the age checks of the UK will make it more difficult than many other countries to access children in the UK online porn.
The regulator said that other sites, including X, former Twitter and Bluesky and Reddit, have committed age assurances.
Ofcom, security codes should also be “domesticated and configured for children to prevent the most harmful materials”.
Children’s social media sites, Facebook, Instagram and Tiktok, game site Roblox and video clip website Youtube often, including some of the platforms they spend on some platforms, he said.
Sites are among those who want to review the efforts to evaluate risks to children until August 7 and examine their practical actions to keep children safe until 30 September.
The actions that can be taken against companies that do not comply with new codes include a fine of up to 18 million £ 18 million or 10% of the worldwide income, and the potentially preventing the access of court orders in the UK.
NSPCC warned that of OCOM “showing her teeth and fully implemented new codes”.
Dame Melanie said: “Priority to clicks and participants on children’s online safety will no longer be tolerated in the UK.
“Our message to technology companies is open – follow the age controls and other protection measures specified in our codes, or face the results of the action of implementation from OCOM.”
However, Andy Burrows, the General Manager of Molly Rose Foundation, said: “This must be a turning point for young people, but we were disappointed by a regulator who chooses to prioritize the work needs of large technology on child safety.”
“In the Silicon Valley, the lack of ambition and accountability will be heard loudly and open”.
“Now we need a clear reset and leadership from the Prime Minister. This does not mean anything less than a new online security law that corrects this broken regime and brings back the balance firmly in favor of children.”
NSPCC General Manager Chris Sherwood said: “Children and their parents should not only be responsible for keeping themselves safe online. It is time to step by technology companies.”
If the execution is “strong ,, the codes should offer a“ vital protection layer ve for children and young people when they are online, “If technology does not fit, ofcoming their teeth should show their teeth and completely applied new codes”.
British Children’s Commissioner Dame Rachel de Souza said on Friday, “Children pointed out a new age of change in how children can be protected online, define and combat the risks towards children on platforms of technology companies” and measures should adapt to developing technology to make them effective in the future.
“I will continue to reflect the views of the children in the business with Ofcom to make the online world a safer place for all children. Protection should always come before profit.”
