New regulations in the UK may lead to social media platforms and dating apps being blocked if they do not take action against cyber flashing, a serious online offense.
Technology Secretary Liz Kendall, who recently assumed the position, will address the issue in her speech at the Labour conference, intensifying efforts to combat online sexual misconduct.
Under the Online Safety Act, cyber flashing, the act of sending explicit images to intimidate or embarrass someone, will be categorized as a severe online crime, requiring platforms to actively remove such content and prevent its distribution.
Failure to comply with these measures could result in fines of up to 10% of a company’s global revenue and potential blocking of their services within the UK.
Research by YouGov reveals that a significant number of young individuals, particularly girls aged 12-18 and a smaller proportion of boys in the same age group, have experienced unsolicited explicit image sharing.
In her address at the Labour conference, Liz Kendall is anticipated to emphasize the necessity of safeguarding children online, stating that combatting harmful online content is a top priority for her department.
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