The social media giant is embarrassing, named after rules aimed at preventing online abuse of women and girls. This is part of new UK guidance to tackle the rise of women’s abuse, harassment and the rise of “exponential” deep-sea images.
On Tuesday, the Regulator ofcom will reveal “smart and practical” steps tech companies hope to adopt to improve online conditions for women.
It targets both illegal practices and harmful practices such as mountains of social media and content that lead to normalisation of sexual violence.
Regulators do not have the formal authority to force companies to comply with technology platforms unless they are illegal, but they do not follow the guidance and, “where (people) can make informed choices.” We are planning to “shear the light” about this. They want to spend their time online,” said Ofcom’s director of online safety Jessica Smith.
Under the UK’s new online safety law, social media groups are responsible for protecting UK people from illegal content and children from harmful content.
Meanwhile, under guidelines, social media groups are asked to take action with posts that encourage misogynistic ideas and behaviors, or identify behaviors that are forced and controlled within intimate relationships.
It also covers non-consensual sharing of intimate images, including those created with AI and those that send explicit images without consent.
“Deep fake, intimate image abuse is something we see exponential growth that we are actually concerned about,” Smith said.
OFCOM recommendations include the use of technology to identify and remove harmful images, encourage uploaders to reconsider before posting harmful material, allowing users to remove or change the visibility of content, etc. It covers many areas.
Other suggestions include training moderation teams to remove geolocation by default, address stalker threats, and address online domestic abuse.
Smith said the recommendation is “sensible and practical things that (the platform) can do.”
Following consultations on guidance, Ofcom said they would like to release the final version by the end of this year.
“We’re looking forward to seeing you in the future,” said Melanie Dawes, CEO of Ofcom. “Trauma of deepfake intimate images that women are shared twice or without consent before expressing themselves online, before they worry about the abuser tracking their location. You don’t have to face it.”
