UK watchdog report highlights how video sharing sites tackle online harm

UK's media watchdog Ofcom published a report on its regulation of selected video-sharing platforms (VSPs) following content handling tools to protect minors and others from harmful content online.

UK regulation requires that VSPs take all steps to protect minors from content inciting violence and hate against groups, which will be regarded as a criminal offense under laws of terrorism, child sexual abuse material, racism, and xenophobia.

The report lists several companies and how they deal with content regulation online like TikTok relying predominantly on the proactive detection of "harmful video content” instead of “reactive user reporting”.

Twitch, on the other hand, enforces on-platform sanctions for “severe” off-platform conduct.

Ofcom highlights Snapchat's tools that identify underage users who deliberately enter the wrong age, for appropriate content.

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“This is based on several factors and is used to stop users suspected to be under 18 from seeing content that is inappropriate for them, such as advertisements of regulated goods. However, Snap did not disclose whether this information is used to validate information about the age of its users or whether it would prompt further investigation of the user," the report stated.

The VSP regulation applies only to a selected few platforms, excluding social media sites like Instagram and Twitter, while TikTok, Snapchat, and Twitch fall under UK regulations and are forced to comply.

Ofcom has specified a list of criteria for VSP regulation notification, emphasising that providers should closely consider if their service has the “principal purpose of providing videos to the public”, while also paying attention to video provision as an “essential functionality” of their service as a whole.

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Ofcom can use its powers to request information and assess services, while also taking enforcement action, notifying or financially sanctioning a service.

In a press release, the organisation stated that “Ofcom is one of the first regulators in Europe to do this."