UK's Toothless Online Safety Act fails to protect children in 2024
- The Online Safety Act has been campaigned for by advocates aiming to protect children from online harm.
- Ofcom's recent plans to enforce the act reveal a risk-averse strategy that is troubling to many stakeholders.
- There is an urgent call for more effective regulation to prevent further tragedies and to hold corporations accountable.
In the UK, there has been a concerning trend where at least one child loses their life to suicide each week, often with technology implicated. As the first anniversary of the Online Safety Act approaches, advocates believe it is vital to enhance regulations to safeguard children from preventable online harms and to alleviate the suffering of affected families. Ofcom, the regulator designated to oversee the implementation of this act, has outlined its intended approach, which has raised criticism due to being perceived as overly cautious and risk averse. Many feel this cautious stance may lead to inadequate measures against persistent corporate failures in protecting children online. Given the systemic deficiencies observed, there is a pressing need for more ambitious actions to truly effect change for the safety of children using online platforms.