Ofcom has recently published the Illegal Harms Consultation.

As a newly appointed regulator for the Online Safety Act, the consultation is seeking views on its proposals for internet services in the scope of the act, on how they should approach their new duties relating to illegal content.

The Act means that tech companies (user-to-user services and search engines) must promote online safety by tackling illegal material and content that is harmful to children, conducting regular risk assessments, and properly enforcing age limits.

The proposals in Ofcom’s consultation are reflective of the extensive evidence gathered from industry and other experts in the sector.

The consultation covers:

· The causes and impacts of illegal harms;

· How services should assess and mitigate the risks of illegal harms;

· How services can identify illegal content; and

· Our approach to enforcement.

The Workshop

NWG is hosting a workshop, with the support of Ofcom, to collect evidence and views from frontline practitioners, to collate as part of a NWG-led consultation response.