On Tuesday, the UK media regulator Ofcom initiated nine investigations concerning the Internet message board 4chan and various file-sharing services, examining potential breaches of online safety legislation.
Enacted in 2023, the UK’s online safety law imposes stricter requirements on platforms to combat unlawful activities, particularly those related to child protection and illegal content.
Ofcom noted that it received reports regarding 4chan’s possible illegal content, as well as concerns over the sharing of child sexual abuse material across seven file-sharing platforms.
The investigations aim to determine whether 4chan and the file-sharing services have neglected to implement adequate safety protocols to shield users from illegal content and to respond appropriately to legal information requests. Additionally, they will evaluate if proper risk assessment documentation exists. 4chan has not yet provided a response.
Regulators have the authority to instruct a platform to adopt specific measures to ensure regulatory compliance or to impose fines up to £18 million ($24.3 million) or 10% of qualifying global revenue.
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Ofcom’s recent announcement indicates that the initial video offering porn services is being evaluated to ensure adequate age verification measures to protect children.
Source: www.theguardian.com