The United Kingdom has decided to dot the i’s and the technology giants. Starting this Monday, Meta, Google and TikTok have an ultimatum: three months to clean their platforms of negative and harmful content or face million-dollar fines and possible blocks.
Ofcom, the British commission and, so to speak, guardian of communications, is going all out. They have published codes of practice, an instruction manual so that technology companies can step up to combat terrorism, hatred, fraud and child sexual abuse on the internet.
The new Online Safety Law forces technology companies to take responsibility for everything that is uploaded and shared in their applications.
Specifically, companies have until March 16, 2025 to clean up all the “garbage.” They will have to improve content moderation, facilitate complaints and create stronger security systems.
Nobody is saved: big technology companies will have to have more transparent reporting systems
Melanie Dawes, the head of Ofcom, has made it clear that they are going to be looked at with a magnifying glass. “We will be watching the industry closely to ensure businesses meet the strict safety standards set out for them in our first codes and guidance, with more requirements quickly following in the first half of next year.”
Fines can reach up to 10% of companies’ global revenues.In extreme cases, managers could end up in jail and Ofcom could request the total blocking of a service, although it must be clarified that this will happen in the United Kingdom.
On the other hand, Peter Kyle, the British Technology Minister, has made it clear: “If the platforms do not step forward, the regulator has my support to use all its powers, including imposing fines and applying to the courts. to block access to the sites.
Taking the United Kingdom as a reference, most likely the entire world is watching. Will social networks manage to catch up? Will this be the beginning of the end of free will on these platforms? The countdown has begun and big technology companies have three months to prove it.
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Tags: Laws, Instagram