Ofcom Urges Social Media Firms to Act Now to Make Platforms Safer
In the midst of unrest sweeping parts of the UK, Ofcom has issued a stern warning to social media firms, urging them to take immediate action to make their platforms safer. The media regulator expressed concerns about the increased risk of sites being used to incite hatred and provoke violence.
While the Online Safety Act, which grants Ofcom tougher powers, has become law, it has not yet come into force. However, Ofcom emphasized that under existing regulations, video-sharing platforms like TikTok and Snap must protect users from videos that could incite violence or hatred.
Despite these regulations, platforms such as YouTube and Elon Musk’s X are not required to follow the same rules. Fact-checking organization Full Fact stressed the urgency for stronger action, stating that online misinformation is fueling unrest on UK streets in real-time.
Ofcom’s director for online safety, Gill Whitehead, urged companies to act now rather than wait for the new law to take effect, which may not be until 2025. While the Online Safety Act aims to address these issues, Prof Lorna Woods of the University of Essex highlighted its limitations, particularly in regulating non-criminal speech.
The role of social media in the current disorder in England and Northern Ireland has raised concerns, with the government calling for platforms to do more. A list containing the names and addresses of immigration lawyers circulating online has prompted the Law Society of England and Wales to treat it as a credible threat.
Telegram, where the list originated, stated that it is actively monitoring and removing channels and posts inciting violence, as such actions violate its terms of service. The situation escalated further when Prime Minister engaged in an online dispute with Elon Musk, who predicted “civil war” in the UK on his platform X.
As the debate over social media’s influence on current events intensifies, the pressure is mounting on platforms to take responsibility and ensure the safety of their users. Ofcom’s call for immediate action serves as a reminder of the critical role these companies play in shaping public discourse and maintaining societal harmony.
