UK threatens tech giants with major fines and blockage in online safety bill revisions

A major U.K. internet safety proposal was revised on Friday after members of parliament criticized the draft for its lack of protection against categorically legal but incredibly harmful online activity. 

The Online Safety Bill, which aims to halt the spread of illegal and dangerous online activity that lives on social media platforms, was further revised by broadening what falls under the umbrella term ‘criminal offenses’ to include revenge porn, drug and weapons dealing, suicide promotion, and people smuggling, among others.

Included in online activity that is technically legal but significantly harmful is "breadcrumbing" — when child abusers use online signals or "signal trails" for other abusers to find harmful content. The provisions also address the use of deepfake technology to create nude images or videos of women.

Nadine Dorries, Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, called on social media executives to take action by not only flagging and taking down harmful content, but also by enforcing speedy and preventative measures.

“We are listening to MPs, charities and campaigners who have wanted us to strengthen the legislation, and today's changes mean we will be able to bring the full weight of the law against those who use the internet as a weapon to ruin people's lives and do so quicker and more effectively,” Dorries said in a statement on Friday. 

Consequences of failing to abide by the new regulations could result in the immediate blockage of non-compliant platforms or in fines of up to 10% of global annual revenues by Ofcom, the U.K. media regulator.

"This Government said it would legislate to make the UK the safest place in the world to be online while enshrining free speech and that’s exactly what we are going to do,” Dorries added.

The call-to-action comes at a time when governments across the globe are looking at tech giants to take accountability for the content created by their users.