Latest news with #MelanieDawes
Business Mayor
11-05-2025
- Business
- Business Mayor
Two porn sites investigated for suspected age check failings
Ofcom has launched investigations into two pornographic websites it believes may be falling foul of the UK's newly introduced child safety rules. The regulator said Itai Tech Ltd – which operates a so-called 'nudifying' site – and Score Internet Group LLC had failed to detail how they were preventing children from accessing their platforms. Ofcom announced in January that, in order to comply with the Online Safety Act, all websites on which pornographic material could be found must introduce 'robust' age-checking techniques from July. It said the two services it was investigating did not appear to have any effective age checking mechanisms. Firms found to be in breach of the Act face huge fines. The regulator said on Friday that many services publishing their own porn content had, as required, provided details of 'highly effective age assurance methods' they were planning to implement. They added that this 'reassuringly' included some of the largest services that fall under the rules. It said a small number of services had also blocked UK users entirely to prevent children accessing them. Itai Tech Ltd and Score Internet Group LLC did not respond to its request for information or show they had plans to introduce age checks, it added. The 'nudifying' technology that one of the company's platforms features involves the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to create the impression of having removed a person's clothing in an image or video. The Children's Commissioner recently called on the government to introduce a total ban on such AI apps that could be used to create sexually explicit images of children. Under the Online Safety Act, platforms that publish their own pornographic content were required to take steps to implement age checks from January. These can include requiring UK users to provide photo ID or running credit card checks. But all websites where a user might encounter pornographic material are also required to demonstrate the robustness of the measures they are taking to verify the age of users. These could even apply to some social media platforms, Ofcom told the BBC in January. The rules are expected to change the way many UK adults will use or encounter some digital services, such as porn sites. 'As age checks start to roll out in the coming months, adults will start to notice a difference in how they access certain online services,' said Dame Melanie Dawes, Ofcom's chief executive, in January. In April, Discord said it would start testing face-scanning as a way to verify some users' ages in the UK and Australia. Experts said it marked 'the start of a bigger shift' for platforms as lawmakers worldwide look to impose strict internet safety rules. Critics suggest such measures risk pushing young people to 'darker corners' of the internet where there are smaller, less regulated sites hosting more violent or explicit material. READ SOURCE
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Two porn sites investigated for suspected age check failings
Ofcom has launched investigations into two pornographic sites it believes may be falling foul of the UK's newly introduced child safety rules. The regulator said two companies - including one running a so-called "nudifying" service - had failed to detail how they were preventing children from accessing their platforms. Ofcom announced in January that, in order to comply with the Online Safety Act, all websites on which pornographic material could be found must introduce "robust" age-checking techniques from July. It said the two services it was investigating did not appear to have any effective means of checking the age of users. Firms found to be in breach of the Act face huge fines. The regulator said on Friday that many services publishing their own porn content had, as required, provided details of "highly effective age assurance methods" they were planning to implement. What the Online Safety Act is - and how to keep children safe online They added that this "reassuringly" included some of the largest services that fall under the rules. It said a small number of services had also blocked UK users entirely to prevent children accessing them, it said. The two companies it is investigating did not respond to its request for information or show they had plans to introduce age checks. The "nudifying" technology one of them features involves the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to create the impression of having removed a person's clothing in an image or video. The Children's Commissioner recently called on the government to introduce a total ban on such AI apps that could be used to create sexually explicit images of children. All websites where a user might encounter pornographic material are required to demonstrate the robustness of the measures they are taking to verify the age of users. These could include requiring UK users to provide photo ID or running credit card checks. These could even apply to some social media platforms, Ofcom told the BBC in January. The rules are expected to change the way many UK adults will use or encounter some digital services, such as porn sites. "As age checks start to roll out in the coming months, adults will start to notice a difference in how they access certain online services," said Dame Melanie Dawes, Ofcom's chief executive, in January. In April, Discord said it would start testing face-scanning as a way to verify some users' ages in the UK and Australia. Experts said it marked "the start of a bigger shift" for platforms as lawmakers worldwide look to impose strict internet safety rules. Critics suggest such measures risk pushing young people to "darker corners" of the internet where there are smaller, less regulated sites hosting more violent or explicit material. How BBC investigation led to Apple removing AI 'nudify' apps First Ofcom probe launched into suicide site exposed by BBC Overhaul algorithms and age checks or face fines, tech firms told
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Free speech is ‘central to everything', insists Ofcom boss
Britain's media watchdog has insisted it remains committed to free speech after coming under fire from US officials over accusations of censorship. Dame Melanie Dawes, head of Ofcom, said freedom of expression was 'central to everything' as she was grilled by MPs over the agency's approach to broadcasting rules. The TV channel GB News has been found in breach of Ofcom's broadcasting code more than two dozen times in recent years over issues including its use of politicians as presenters. The regulator has since dropped five of those breach decisions after the channel challenged the rulings in the High Court. Speaking in front of the culture, media and sport committee, Dame Melanie said that while GB News had repeatedly fallen foul of the rules, its compliance record had 'significantly improved'. 'Ultimately that's what we're aiming for, to get compliance with the code, and to do so in a way that absolutely upholds freedom of expression and the freedom of the broadcaster to innovate – that's incredibly important – but safeguards those standards for the public,' she said. Ofcom's new role as Britain's first internet regulator has been thrust into the spotlight amid trade negotiations with the US and Donald Trump's vocal support of free speech. US officials have reportedly raised concerns that the regulator's new online laws, which are aimed at tackling illegal material and protecting children from harmful content, could amount to censorship. TV channel GB News has been found in breach of Ofcom's broadcasting code more than two dozen times That followed a blistering speech delivered by JD Vance, the US vice-president, in which he attacked European leaders, saying free speech was 'in retreat' across the region. Sir Keir Starmer has said the UK must remain a pioneer of free speech, but insisted that online harms laws were not up for negotiation as part of any trade agreement. However, Dame Melanie's comments suggest Ofcom bosses are keen to emphasise the regulator's focus on freedom of expression as the Government races to strike a trade deal with the US to avoid tariffs. Ofcom is also facing criticism from GB News for its approach to regulation. Writing in The Telegraph on Tuesday, Angelos Frangopoulos, the channel's chief executive, accused the watchdog of having a 'jailer' mentality that was hampering the Prime Minister's growth ambitions. The fledgling channel secured a big victory earlier this year when a High Court judge quashed Ofcom's verdict that the use of Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg as a presenter had breached broadcasting rules. However, Ofcom is now poised to strengthen its rules to ensure that politicians cannot present news in any programme, including current affairs shows. Mr Frangopoulos warned the proposed regulations would make it 'even harder for budding newcomers'. Dame Melanie said: 'We're very clear our responsibility is to ensure due impartiality, but not to say what politicians should and shouldn't do beyond that … freedom of expression is central to everything.' Asked whether the regulator's remit should be expanded to cover news programming on different platforms such as YouTube, the Ofcom boss said: 'There is so much plurality now, which in many ways is a good thing, but I think we have to be careful that we don't try to regulate everything. 'That's why we believe that making sure that the really high-quality, accurate, impartial news services that we regulate do have sufficient prominence, making sure that they're still there.' Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Ofcom Boss: Landmark UK Supreme Court Ruling On Definition Of A Woman 'May Affect' How Regulator Judges Complaints About TV Shows
Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Generate Key Takeaways The landmark UK Supreme Court ruling on the definition of a woman could play a part in Ofcom's assessment of complaints about TV shows, according to the regulator's CEO. Melanie Dawes acknowledged to the Culture, Media and Sport Committee (CMSC) today that last month's controversial judgement, which defines a woman by biological sex, 'is relevant and may affect how we approach any assessment of a complaint.' More from Deadline She stressed that Ofcom 'did not and does not give guidance to TV or radio companies about how they should handle questions of gender identity and sex-based rights.' Several years back, Dawes was quoted chastising the BBC for its 'extremely inappropriate' decision to 'balance' appearances by transgender people on current affairs shows with activists from anti-trans pressure groups. But today Dawes said 'I think there was a bit of confusion around that story' as she noted the complexity of the Supreme Court ruling. In what was an extremely high-profile case, the Supreme Court ruled that women can only now be legally defined by biological sex, which has already led to rule changes in areas including trans women competing in sports. Last week, Deadline revealed that the likes of The Last of Us star Bella Ramsey, Babygirl's Harris Dickinson and Bridgerton's Nicola Coughlan were among more than 400 industry professionals to sign an open letter calling for industry action on trans rights. Another signee, Paapa Essiedu, generated headlines over the weekend after staunch anti-trans campaigner J.K. Rowling – who celebrated the Supreme Court ruling on social media – said his advocating for trans rights would not impact his position in the upcoming Harry Potter HBO series. Michael Grade, Ofcom Chair and an ex-BBC, ITV and Channel 4 boss, said there will be 'endless debates going on inside newsrooms, current affairs teams and doc-makers about how to make sure they don't fall foul of the [Supreme Court] act going forwards.' 'It is for them to decide,' he added. 'It is for us to step in post-transmission if there is a complaint, and we would look at that.' 'GB News has significantly improved' GB News presenter Jacob Rees-Mogg During a wide-ranging committee session, Dawes revealed that Ofcom will in a few days' time unveil the results of its consultation on the rules over politicians presenting news and current affairs programmes, which was sparked by various impartiality breaches by right-leaning firebrand network GB News. Having lost a landmark legal battle against GB News over a report by presenter and ex-politician Jacob Rees-Mogg, Dawes sought to calm the waters today. 'GB News has had specific issues around the code but in the recent past their compliance record has been significantly improved,' she added. 'Ultimately that is what we are aiming for, to get compliance of the code and allow for free expression while safeguarding standards for the public.' Dawes and Grade stressed the need to balance free expression with due impartiality several times during the CMSC hearing. While audiences do not want to see politicians presenting straight news shows, Dawes said they would not want to ban them from presenting current affairs chatshows. The execs were also grilled on the rumors around foreign buyers Banijay and RedBird IMI taking interest in acquiring ITV or its production arm ITV Studios. RedBird IMI, which is a state-funded enterprise of the United Arab Emirates, was blocked from buying British newspaper The Telegraph last year and Dawes said Ofcom may play a role 'depending on the circumstances' of any ITV takeover. Grade pointed out that UK network Channel 5 is owned by a non-UK company in Paramount. He said Channel 5 is 'doing extremely well under its ownership, quite a bit better than it used to.' Best of Deadline Sign up for Deadline's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Business Mayor
27-04-2025
- Business Mayor
Overhaul algorithms and age checks or face fines, tech firms told
Websites will have to change the algorithms that recommend content to young people and introduce beefed-up age checks or face big fines, the UK media regulator has confirmed. Ofcom says its 'Children's Codes' – the final versions of which have now been published – will offer 'transformational new protections'. Platforms which host pornography, or offer content which encourages self-harm, suicide or eating disorders are among those which must take more robust action to prevent children accessing their content. Ofcom boss Dame Melanie Dawes said it was a 'gamechanger' but critics say the restrictions do not go far enough and were 'a bitter pill to swallow'. Ian Russell, chairman of the Molly Rose Foundation, which was set up in memory of his daughter – who took her own life aged 14 – said he was 'dismayed by the lack of ambition' in the codes. But Dame Melanie told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that age checks were a first step as 'unless you know where children are, you can't give them a different experience to adults. 'There is never anything on the internet or in real life that is fool proof… [but] this represents a gamechanger.' She admitted that while she was 'under no illusions' that some companies 'simply either don't get it or don't want to', but emphasised the Codes had legal force. 'If they want to serve the British public and if they want the privilege in particular in offering their services to under 18s, then they are going to need to change the way those services operate.' Prof Victoria Baines, a former safety officer at Facebook told the BBC it is 'a step in the right direction'. Talking to the Today Programme, she said: 'Big tech companies are really getting to grips with it , so they are putting money behind it, and more importantly they're putting people behind it.' Technology Secretary Peter Kyle said key to the rules was tackling the algorithms which decide what children get shown online. 'The vast majority of kids do not go searching for this material, it just lands in their feeds,' he told BBC Radio 5 Live. Kyle told The Telegraph he was separately looking into a social media curfew for under-16s, but would not 'act on something that will have a profound impact on every single child in the country without making sure that the evidence supports it'. The new rules for platforms are subject to parliamentary approval under the Online Safety Act. The regulator says they contain more than 40 practical measures tech firms must take, including: Algorithms being adjusted to filter out harmful content from children's feeds Robust age checks for people accessing age-restricted content Taking quick action when harmful content is identified Making terms of service easy for children to understand Giving children the option to decline invitations to group chats which may include harmful content Providing support to children who come across harmful content A 'named person accountable for children's safety' Management of risk to children reviewed annually by a senior body If companies fail to abide by the regulations, Ofcom said it has 'the power to impose fines and – in very serious cases – apply for a court order to prevent the site or app from being available in the UK.' Read More Google settles $5bn lawsuit for 'private mode' tracking Children's charity the NSPCC broadly welcomed the Codes, calling them 'a pivotal moment for children's safety online.' But they called for Ofcom to go further, especially when it came to private messaging apps which are often encrypted – meaning platforms cannot see what is being sent. READ SOURCE
