Stay up to date with notifications from The IndependentNotifications can be managed in browser preferences.Jump to contentThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged inAllNewsSportCultureLifestyleOfcom, the UK's internet regulator, has issued new guidance urging technology firms to address “significant and widespread” online abuse targeting women. The watchdog highlighted that women in public life, including sport and politics, face daily abuse, citing examples such as the England women's football team and MP Rosie Wrighting. Dame Melanie Dawes, Ofcom's chief executive, stated the digital world is “not serving women and girls the way it should” and called for urgent industry-wide action. The guidance recommends measures like prompts to reconsider harmful posts, “timeouts” for repeat offenders, limiting comments and enhanced tools for blocking and reporting abuse. While the guidance is currently not enforceable, organisations like Internet Matters and Refuge are pressing the Government to make it a mandatory Code of Practice to ensure meaningful protection for women and girls online. In fullOfcom urges tech firms to tackle toxic online abuse of womenThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in
Ofcom pressures tech firms to protect women from online abuse
Stay up to date with notifications from The IndependentNotifications can be managed in browser preferences.Jump to contentThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged inAllNewsSportCultureLifestyleOfcom, the UK's internet regulator, has issued new guidance urging technology firms to address “significant and widespread” online abuse targeting women. The watchdog highlighted that women in public life, including sport and politics, face daily abuse, citing examples such as the England women's football team and MP Rosie Wrighting. Dame Melanie Dawes, Ofcom's chief executive, stated the digital world is “not serving women and girls the way it should” and called for urgent industry-wide action. The guidance recommends measures like prompts to reconsider harmful posts, “timeouts” for repeat offenders, limiting comments and enhanced tools for blocking and reporting abuse. While the guidance is currently not enforceable, organisations like Internet Matters and Refuge are pressing the Government to make it a mandatory Code of Practice to ensure meaningful protection for women and girls online. In fullOfcom urges tech firms to tackle toxic online abuse of womenThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in
