Safety measures to protect children from 'toxic algorithms'

A generation of children will no longer be “at the mercy of toxic algorithms”, the Technology Secretary has declared, as new online safety protections officially came into force.

- Aine Fox, The Independent

Peter Kyle stated that the government was laying the foundations for a “safer, healthier, more humane online world”, issuing a stern warning to tech firms that they “will be held to account” if they fail to adhere to the new measures. The changes, enacted as part of the Online Safety Act and set to be enforced by regulator Ofcom, mandate that online platforms hosting pornography or other harmful content — such as material related to self-harm, suicide, or eating disorders — must implement robust age checks.

These can include facial age estimation or credit card verification. Furthermore, platforms are now required to ensure their algorithms do not actively harm children by, for example, pushing such content towards them. Companies found to be non-compliant face severe penalties, including fines of up to £18 million or 10 per cent of their qualifying worldwide revenue, whichever sum is greater. Court orders that could block access to these platforms in the UK are also a potential consequence.