UK unveils new online safety measures

By Ahmet Gurhan Kartal</p> <p>LONDON (AA) – The British government on Monday unveiled new online safety measures that include “heavy fines” on technology companies, if they fail to protect their users from harmful content.</p> <p>“Social media firms must abide by mandatory “duty of care” to protect users and could face heavy fines if they fail to deliver,” according to a press release issued by the government.</p> <p>The press release said that an “independent regulator will be appointed to enforce stringent new standards”.</p> <p>The social media companies and tech firms “will be legally required to protect their users and face tough penalties if they do not comply,” it added.</p> <p>The new regulations will “require companies to take reasonable steps to keep their users safe and tackle illegal and harmful activity on their services,” the government said.</p> <p>“The internet can be brilliant at connecting people across the world – but for too long these companies have not done enough to protect users, especially children and young people, from harmful content,” Prime Minister Theresa May said.</p> <p>“That is not good enough, and it is time to do things differently. We have listened to campaigners and parents, and are putting a legal duty of care on internet companies to keep people safe,” she added.</p> <p>“Online companies must start taking responsibility for their platforms, and help restore public trust in this technology.”</p> <p>May said a range of issues will be tackled “including inciting violence and violent content, encouraging suicide, disinformation, cyber bullying and children accessing inappropriate material.”</p> <p>“There will be stringent requirements for companies to take even tougher action to ensure they tackle terrorist and child sexual exploitation and abuse content,” she said.</p> <p>Meanwhile, Home Secretary Sajid Javid said: “The tech giants and social media companies have a moral duty to protect the young people they profit from.</p> <p>“Despite our repeated calls to action, harmful and illegal content – including child abuse and terrorism – is still too readily available online,” Sajid said.</p> <p>“That is why we are forcing these firms to clean up their act once and for all,” he added.