26.11.2025 23:39:00
Дата публикации
The UK communications regulator Ofcom has introduced new recommendations for social platforms aimed at tackling online harassment and protecting women and girls. The document sets out directions for companies on how to limit online aggression and prevent the unlawful distribution of intimate materials.
One of the key proposals is to restrict so‑called “pile‑ons” — mass attacks where a single user receives hundreds of abusive replies. Ofcom suggests technically limiting the number of responses to posts to reduce the scale of harassment.
The regulator also highlights the issue of sharing intimate photos and videos without consent, such as in cases of “revenge porn.” To combat this, it recommends using databases of suspicious images and hash‑matching technology, which allows harmful content to be quickly identified and removed.
These measures were developed under the Online Safety Act, designed to protect children and adults from harmful material online. Although the recommendations remain voluntary, Ofcom plans to publish a report in 2027 on how platforms have implemented them.
If companies ignore or only formally comply with the requirements, the regulator is prepared to advise the government to strengthen the law and make some rules mandatory. Thus, the voluntary nature of the document could evolve into a legal obligation.
Ofcom’s Chief Executive Melanie Dawes noted she had encountered “shocking” stories of online abuse and stressed the need for decisive action from tech companies. She described the initiative as creating a new safety standard for women and girls online.
Additional measures include prompts encouraging users to reconsider posting abusive messages, temporary restrictions for violators, and bans on monetizing misogynistic content.
Ofcom believes the new guidelines are an important step toward a safer digital environment. Their success will depend on the willingness of social platforms to adopt the measures and the government’s determination to enshrine them in law.
One of the key proposals is to restrict so‑called “pile‑ons” — mass attacks where a single user receives hundreds of abusive replies. Ofcom suggests technically limiting the number of responses to posts to reduce the scale of harassment.
The regulator also highlights the issue of sharing intimate photos and videos without consent, such as in cases of “revenge porn.” To combat this, it recommends using databases of suspicious images and hash‑matching technology, which allows harmful content to be quickly identified and removed.
These measures were developed under the Online Safety Act, designed to protect children and adults from harmful material online. Although the recommendations remain voluntary, Ofcom plans to publish a report in 2027 on how platforms have implemented them.
If companies ignore or only formally comply with the requirements, the regulator is prepared to advise the government to strengthen the law and make some rules mandatory. Thus, the voluntary nature of the document could evolve into a legal obligation.
Ofcom’s Chief Executive Melanie Dawes noted she had encountered “shocking” stories of online abuse and stressed the need for decisive action from tech companies. She described the initiative as creating a new safety standard for women and girls online.
Additional measures include prompts encouraging users to reconsider posting abusive messages, temporary restrictions for violators, and bans on monetizing misogynistic content.
Ofcom believes the new guidelines are an important step toward a safer digital environment. Their success will depend on the willingness of social platforms to adopt the measures and the government’s determination to enshrine them in law.
