Ofcom says TikTok and YouTube 'not safe enough' for children
UK communications regulator Ofcom said TikTok and YouTube are 'not safe enough' for children and ordered the platforms to apply stricter controls to harmful content. The ruling is being seen as a significant test of the country's new Online Safety Act enforcement powers.
Ofcom's review found that current age verification, content moderation and recommendation algorithms on TikTok and YouTube are not doing enough to protect children from harmful material. The regulator told the platforms to 'retune algorithms and tighten age labelling' to bring their services into compliance.
Referring to the Online Safety Act's penalty thresholds, Ofcom reminded companies that non-compliance can attract fines of up to 10% of global turnover. An Ofcom official said: 'Our children should not encounter harm online by accident,' calling the moment a turning point in UK regulation of large online platforms.
TikTok and YouTube's parent companies said they would study the report and take the necessary steps. Child-protection campaigners welcomed the decision, while digital civil-society groups urged the platforms to publish more transparency on algorithmic adjustments. European regulators are expected to monitor the precedent closely.
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