Ofcom launches investigations into 9 online platforms for failing to protect children

Ofcom has instituted multiple investigations into whether seven file-sharing services, internet forum 4chan, and porn provider First Time Videos have failed to comply with their duties under the United Kingdom’s Online Safety Act.

The British regulator states that companies and online service providers have to take action to protect UK users from potentially harmful content, especially for young children.

Websites that offer pornographic content, for example, must have effective age verification checks in place to prevent minors from accessing this material. Online platforms where people can see content shared by others, like social media, should combat illegal content and criminal activities on their platforms and take appropriate steps to protect children from it.

On Tuesday, Ofcom announced that it has opened formal investigations into seven online file-sharing services – Im.ge, Krakenfiles, Nippybox, Nippydrive, Nippyshare, Nippyspace, and Yolobit – online discussion board 4chan, and porn provider First Time Videos for not answering to the regulator’s information requests.

Ofcom says it has received complaints about potentially illegal content and activity on 4chan, and possible sharing of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) on the file-sharing services. Specifically, they failed to put appropriate measures in place to protect UK users from illegal content and activity, complete an illegal harm risk assessment, and respond to statutory information requests.

Lastly, an investigation has been launched into First Time Videos, the parent company behind several porn sites, to find out whether this company is properly checking the age of visitors. Robust age verification checks will be mandatory in the UK starting in July.

If the investigations show that the platforms are not complying with the UK’s Online Safety Act, Ofcom can compel them to take steps for compliance. They also risk a fine of up to £18 million (approximately €21 million) or 10 percent of their worldwide annual revenue, whichever is greater.

“Where appropriate, in the most serious cases, we can seek a court order for ‘business disruption measures’, such as requiring payment providers or advertisers to withdraw their services from a platform, or requiring Internet Service Providers to block access to a site in the UK,” Ofcom reassures.