Cheltenham mum calls for more action on online safety
OFCOM have announced tougher punishments for social media companies.
Tech firms that don't protect people from illegal activity online will face tougher punishments from today.
Ofcom says it'll hand out multi-million pound fines and even shut sites down that haven't put measures in place to stop things like grooming.
Ellen Roome's 14-year-old son died after accessing social media.
She told Greatest Hits Radio she's concerned harmful content isn't included in these new rules.
“It’s not doing enough it really needs to be stronger to tighten things up.
“How many more children are going to suffer seeing harmful content and in worst cases like mine a child dies”
Ellen says action needs to be taken faster to keep up with ever changing technology.
“I’m sure if this happened to somebody in parliaments child it would happen a lot quicker, funnily enough it would probably get switched off.
And I, God forbid, don’t wish this to happen to anybody else but come on wake up world we need to do more about this.”
OFCOM say the new changes give them the power to fine companies up to £18m or 10% of their qualifying worldwide revenue, whichever is greater.
In very serious cases they will be able to apply for a court order to block a site in the UK.
Dame Melanie Dawes, Ofcom’s Chief Executive, said:
“For too long, sites and apps have been unregulated, unaccountable and unwilling to prioritise people’s safety over profits. That changes from today.
“The safety spotlight is now firmly on tech firms and it’s time for them to act. We’ll be watching the industry closely to ensure firms match up to the strict safety standards set for them under our first codes and guidance, with further requirements to follow swiftly in the first half of next year.
“Those that come up short can expect Ofcom to use the full extent of our enforcement powers against them.”