Ofcom, the UK’s digital and communications regulator, has released a strict new code to protect children online. The Protection of Children Codes and Guidance follows an extensive consultation process with tens of thousands of parents and children. Feedback was also gathered from tech firms, civil society organizations, safety experts, and charities concerned about child wellbeing. These rules are part of the Online Safety Act and aim to force digital platforms to prioritize young users’ safety in every feature they offer.
The new guidance outlines 40 detailed safety measures that platforms must implement to shield children from harmful online content.
This includes recommender systems designed to automatically filter out inappropriate or dangerous content from children’s feeds and timelines. Companies must also implement more effective age verification methods or ensure that all users, regardless of age, receive an experience that is safe for children. Online services must respond swiftly to harmful content reports and provide meaningful support for children exposed to such material.
The code also requires platforms to give children more control over their experience, such as the ability to block or mute users, reject group chat invitations, and disable comments on their posts. A simple and easy-to-use system for reporting harmful or distressing content must be available, with all terms of service written in language children can understand. Ofcom requires that each company assign a named person to be held accountable for child safety. In addition, a senior-level committee must conduct annual reviews of risks to children and report their findings.
Digital service providers that fall under Ofcom’s oversight must complete a risk assessment of their platforms by July 24, 2025. They must then implement all necessary child protection measures by the following day, July 25. Companies that fail to comply with the new code could face severe consequences, including fines of up to £18 million or 10% of global revenue. In extreme cases, Ofcom can ask the courts to block access to offending platforms for UK users, underscoring the regulator’s commitment to protecting children in the digital age.
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