Alex McCurthy
Ofcom has laid out the measures it will require video-sharing platforms to take to better protect users. The VSPs must ensure content related to terrorism, child s*xual abuse and racism does not appear.
“Online videos play a huge role in our lives now, particularly for children,” said Dame Melanie Dawes. “But many people see hateful, violent or inappropriate material while using them.
“The platforms where these videos are shared now have a legal duty to take steps to protect their users. So we’re stepping up our oversight of these tech companies, while also gearing up for the task of tackling a much wider range of online harms in the future.”
Ofcom’s job will not involve assessing individual videos.
And it acknowledges the massive amount of content will make it impossible to prevent every instance of harm.
But it promised a “rigorous but fair” approach to its new duties.
Chief executive Dame Melanie Dawes said: “Online videos play a huge role in our lives now, particularly for children.
“But many people see hateful, violent or inappropriate material while using them.
“The platforms where these videos are shared now have a legal duty to take steps to protect their users.”
