Publishing & social media

Ofcom consults on draft guidance: A safer life online for women and girls

News • February 26, 2025

Ofcom is consulting on draft guidance to protect women and girls under the Online Safety Act. The guidance sets out areas where technology firms can contribute towards improving women and girls’ online safety by taking responsibility, designing their services to prevent harm and supporting their users. As SCL readers will be aware, the Online Safety…

Ofcom issues two consultations under Media Act 2024

News • February 21, 2025

Ofcom has issued two consultations under the Media Act. Among other things, the Act seeks to ensure, among other things, that audiences can easily find and discover public service broadcasters’ content on connected TV platforms, and that they are well served by this content. Specifically, the Act requires certain connected TV platforms to ensure that…

This Week’s Techlaw News Round-Up

News • February 21, 2025

UK law DSIT renames and refocuses AI Safety Institute to tackle security threats The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) has announced that the AI Safety Institute will be renamed the AI Security Institute. The new name reflects its focus on serious AI risks with security implications, such as how the technology can be…

This Week’s Techlaw News Round-Up

News • February 7, 2025

UK law ICO issues direct marketing guidance tool The ICO has launched a free online tool to help organisations ensure their direct marketing activities comply with UK law – including the Privacy and Electronic Communication Regulations (PECR), and the UK GDPR. The tool has been designed with small organisations in mind, who might have less…

This Week’s Techlaw News Round-up

News • January 31, 2025

UK law Gambling Commission issues industry warning notice about licensed software appearing on illegal market The Gambling Commission has issued an industry warning notice about licensed software appearing on illegal markets. The Commission said that it knows about casino games supplied by licensed operators appearing on unlicensed websites available to consumers in Grean Britain illegally….

Ofcom fines video sharing platform MintStars £7,000

News • January 28, 2025

Ofcom has issued a Final Decision to MintStars Ltd under s368Z4 of the Communication Act 2003 for MintStar’s failure to take and/or implement adequate measures as set out in Schedule 15A of the Act as are appropriate for the purposes of protecting persons under the age of 18 from videos containing restricted material, as required…

ICO issues update on online tracking strategy

News • January 27, 2025

The ICO has published its online tracking strategy which sets out how it will promote compliance with the law in 2025 to obtain a fairer online tracking ecosystem for people and business. The ICO discusses its activities in 2024 and says that its focus in 2025 will be on online advertising. It says that giving…

This Week’s Techlaw News Round Up

News • January 24, 2025

UK UK government tables amendment to Data (Use and Access) Bill to deal with deepfakes The UK government has tabled an amendment to the Data (Use and Access Bill) to deal with deepfakes. The Data (Use and Access) Bill is currently before Parliament. The government’s amendment will criminalise intentionally creating a sexually explicit deepfake without…

Ofcom publishes final guidance on age checks to protect children online

January 17, 2025

Ofcom has published its final guidance on age assurance under the Online Safety Act 2023. It says that robust age checks are a cornerstone of the OSA. It requires services which allow pornography or certain other types of harmful content to introduce “age assurance” to ensure that children are not normally able to encounter it….

US Social Media Liability: Quicksand?

Analysis • January 16, 2025

Ryan E. Long warns of the US lawsuits currently targeting social media platforms The Set Up Great news! Your UK based social media dating company – “Better Than Cupid” – just got funded. It’s been launched in the US and is slated to be released in other countries. You just started celebrating. But then you…