The UK government has outlined its key priorities for Ofcom, the online safety regulator, as it prepares to oversee and enforce new rules under the Online Safety Act, set to take effect next year. Technology Secretary Peter Kyle has provided strategic guidance for Ofcom's role in implementing these groundbreaking measures.
As part of this initiative, the government has published the Statement of Strategic Priorities (SSP), emphasizing the importance of integrating safety into the design of digital platforms from the outset in order to prevent harm before it occurs. The strategy also demands greater transparency from tech companies about the risks on their platforms and seeks to create an inclusive and resilient digital space, capable of addressing issues like disinformation.
To complement these efforts, the government is launching a comprehensive study to better understand how smartphone and social media use affects children. This research aims to build a stronger evidence base to support online safety initiatives. The first phase of the study will explore effective methods for assessing these impacts, following findings from the UK Chief Medical Officer's 2019 review, which highlighted insufficient data to draw firm conclusions about the link between digital technology and children's mental health.
The results of this study are expected to guide the next steps in the implementation of the Online Safety Act, ensuring that policies evolve to address emerging concerns.
The SSP focuses on five key areas:
- Safety by Design: Encouraging platforms to prioritize user safety from the outset, with a special focus on protecting children, addressing violence against women and girls, and eliminating illegal activities like fraud, child sexual exploitation, and disinformation.
- Transparency and Accountability: Requiring digital platforms to operate with greater transparency and accountability to foster trust and improve user safety while expanding the evidence base for effective regulation.
- Agile Regulation: Establishing a regulatory framework that can adapt to emerging threats, including those posed by AI-generated content and other technological advancements.
- Inclusivity and Resilience: Promoting a digital ecosystem that is inclusive, informed, and capable of withstanding risks, including the spread of harmful disinformation.
- Technology and Innovation: Encouraging the development of new online safety technologies that protect users while driving economic growth.
The government plans to finalize these priorities by consulting with experts in online safety and those with first-hand experience of the real-world consequences of inadequate digital protections. Ofcom is expected to begin enforcing the Online Safety Act's requirements for digital platforms starting in the spring of next year.
This initiative underscores the government's commitment to creating a safer digital environment, particularly for children and other vulnerable groups, while addressing the complex challenges posed by evolving online risks.