Neil Brown

Ofcom has announced new rules under the #OnlineSafetyAct, to tackle the distribution of unsolicited sexual images.

In summary, in-scope providers must:

* make it easy for people to report this content to the platform operator;

* have content moderation teams that are appropriately resourced and trained to deal with this content;

* have content moderation systems and processes designed to take down this content swiftly when the platform becomes aware of it; and

* provide users with tools to block or mute other users.

https://www.ofcom.org.uk/online-safety/illegal-and-harmful-content/statement-protecting-people-from-illegal-harms-online

Jun 25 at 9:14amWeb
Show threadTony Hoyle3d ago
@neil That doesn't seem too onerous for a mastadon instance.
Show threadSimon Brooke3d ago

@neil It would seem to me that the #Fediverse generally, and any instance that has an active moderator, would be well placed to say 'we already comply'. We do have a content reporting system which makes it easy to report and take down content, and there is already generally an understanding that NSFW images should be hidden behind a content warning.

I don't feel that this is threatening to us.

Do you?

Show threadDamien3d ago
@simon_brooke @neil do you know of any moderation training courses? Seems a reasonable ask but a somewhat onerous thing to implement in practice (for non-commercial entities)?
Show threaddoombunny3d ago
@damien @simon_brooke @neil The Iftas folks might be able to point you in a helpful direction. https://about.iftas.org/
IFTAS

Nonprofit trust and safety support for volunteer social web content moderators

IFTAS
Show threadcalcius3d ago

@neil
I was hoping the article would be

"Ofcom has announced new rules under the online right-wing extremism act"But of course the fascist-wing has deep pockets, so dream on Calcius.

Show threadLuminos3d ago

@neil This sounds surprisingly reasonable after all the madness we've seen so far.

Does this take into account the capacities of the service operator? A single person running a service as a hobby or as a public service can't employ a content moderation team.

Show threadLorna Woods3d ago
@neil Ofcom as part of this has updated its Illegal Content Judgments Guidance to give more detail on what encouraging or assisting serious-self harm, and cyberflashing are considered to be for the purposes of the Act:
https://www.ofcom.org.uk/online-safety/illegal-and-harmful-content/statement-new-priority-offences-serious-self-harm-and-cyberflashing