Protecting children from harms online

Protecting children from online harms: IET comments to Ofcom on 16 July 2024.

The IET has responded to a consultation by Ofcom. This consultation focused on Ofcom’s proposals for how internet services that enable the sharing of user-generated content ('user-to-user services') and search services should approach their new duties relating to content that is harmful to children.

The IET has consistently campaigned to raise awareness of the huge potential, yet also the significant harms that can occur in virtual reality (VR). Despite assurances that the Online Safety Act (OSA) regulates to cover the metaverse, language around online safety is still too focussed on 2D interaction and not immersive behaviour. It is also pivotal that further research is undertaken into the distinctions between 2D and immersive environments and the impact that this has for regulation.

The IET recommends that:

• Immersive technologies should be given specific consideration in regulation so that there is no ambiguity for users and businesses about the legality of actions that take place in virtual reality. Although they differ to the ‘traditional’ forms of social media, they can be just as harmful to their users.
• There is scope for further refinement and clarification of the proposals. For example, defining more specifically a “significant number of children”.
• Continuous review and improvement is crucial. The best way to tackle online harms to children and ensure the proposals maintain up to date and effective will be to continually review, scrutinise and improve them accordingly. A review should be undertaken into the impact of the OSA on regulating immersive reality.
• Encourage choice and support. Clear and accessible information, with an easy-to-use reporting and complaints processes, is essential to the success of protecting children from online harms.

If you would like to read further on this topic, we also addressed it in an open letter to Ofcom.