Nov. 25 (UPI) -- Britain's communications watchdog warned tech companies Tuesday that they must do more to tackle the harm caused to women and girls by online abuse, issuing a five-point plan to hold websites and apps accountable.
Developed with input from victims, survivors, safety experts, women's organizations and groups working with men and boys, the plan requires firms to take practical steps to counter "online misogynistic abuse, pile-ons, stalking and intimate image abuse," the Office of Communications said in a news release.
Features include asking social media platforms to flash up "prompts" asking users to think again before posting harmful content, but not blocking them from doing so, and making it more difficult for users to abuse a platform or function to victimize people by making repeat offenders subject to "timeouts."
The plan also calls on platforms to recommend a wide array of content and perspectives to help avoid "toxic echo chambers" forming, as well as demonetizing posts or videos promoting misogynistic abuse and sexual violence.
Ofcom asked firms to rate limit posts to help prevent mass-posting of abuse in "pile-ons," allow users to quickly block or mute multiple accounts, enable them to file multiple reports and track their progress and bundle safety and privacy features, including making users' location visible an opt in.
