Time for action: Ofcom's warning |
Ofcom has issued a stern warning to social media companies, saying that the "time for talk is over." From December, firms including Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp will be legally required to implement measures to protect children from online harms, including suicide and pornography. Failure to comply could result in fines of up to 10% of global turnover, and persistent non-compliance may lead to jail sentences for executives. Dame Melanie Dawes, Ofcom's chief executive, stressed the importance of risk assessments, saying: "It's definitely not just a paper exercise." The regulator plans to publish guidance on the new Online Safety Act in December, with companies given three months to comply. Ofcom has already seen some positive changes from platforms, but it warns that expectations will be high moving forward.