Which? celebrates new online safety laws
Which? celebrates new internet safety laws
After two years of Which? campaigning, the Online Safety Bill has now become law. This marks a major step towards a safer internet for UK consumers.
In those two years, Which? and 108,000 campaign supporters worked tirelessly to highlight the need for greater protections for consumers from online scams, which included:
- 25,000 people joining our Facebook Scam Action Group
- 20,000 emails sent by supporters to Members of Parliament
- 11,000 postcards to the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
- 3,500 tweets sent to the Secretary of State
Under this new legislation, online platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and Google will be legally obliged to remove harmful content, which will include scams and fraudulent content among others.
Read on to find out the significance of this new legislation for consumers and for advice on staying safe online.
Why the Online Safety Bill matters
A survey conducted by the regulator Ofcom found that nine in 10 people had encountered fraud online, and nearly half of adult internet users had been drawn into engaging with an online scam.
Previously, big tech had no legal responsibility to prevent criminals from operating on their platforms, allowing platforms to take a reactive approach to removing harmful content.
Which? has long campaigned for greater protections for consumers from online fraudsters, and our research has regularly highlighted the detriment consumers suffer due to online fraud on unregulated online platforms.
Last year, our investigation with Demos Consulting uncovered a host of potentially fraudulent and misleading investment adverts on Instagram and Facebook. These dodgy adverts promised tempting investment ‘services’, tips, training and advice.
Under the Online Safety Bill, online platforms will be required to prevent and quickly remove harmful online content. Ofcom will be responsible for ensuring platforms implement these changes.
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Which? responds to passing of the Online Safety Bill
Rocio Concha, Which? director of policy and advocacy, said: ‘Which? led the campaign for consumers to have stronger protections against scam adverts on social media platforms and search engines that can have devastating financial and emotional consequences for victims.
‘These new Online Safety laws are a major step forward in the fight back against fraud by forcing tech firms to step up and take more responsibility for stopping people being targeted by fraudulent online adverts.
‘Ofcom must now develop codes of practice that will hold platforms to a high standard and be prepared to take strong enforcement action, including fines, against firms if they break the law.’
Staying safe online
Fraudsters are expert at being able to part you from your money, creating convincing websites, emails and social media pages and profiles.
If you’re being asked for money or personal details, think twice about handing them over. An offer that’s too good to be true is sadly often the case - whether that’s a bargain price for sought-after goods or tickets, or an investment offer with an unusually high return, we’ve seen them all.
If you've shared personal details with someone who you think could be a scammer, change any relevant passwords and report the scam attempt to Action Fraud, or the police on 101 if you live in Scotland. If you've shared financial details with a scammer, contact your bank immediately.
Suspicious emails can be forwarded to report@phishing.gov.uk, and scam websites can be reported to the National Cyber Security Centre online.
Seen or been affected by a scam? Help us protect others
This article was first published on 20 September and updated on 26 October after the Online Safety Bill gained Royal Assent.
