Ofcom is working to stop illegal content going viral in a crisis

Ofcom is strengthening its online safety codes of practice by telling platforms they should have protocols in place to respond to spikes in illegal content during a crisis. 

If illegal content spreads rapidly online, it can pose a serious threat to public safety, as seen when online content fuelled violent riots following the 2024 Southport murders. Alternatively, a real-world crisis can cause a surge in illegal content online – for example, if a terrorist attack is livestreamed.

Such crises are exceptional and occur infrequently, which means that tech firms’ usual moderation processes may not be sufficient in these circumstances.

To address this, Ofcom is adding new measures to its online safety codes of practice, under which platforms should have protocols in place to respond to spikes in illegal content during a crisis.

Ofcom’s new safety measures means that tech firms should act promptly and effectively during a crisis, to manage a significant increase in illegal content appearing and address the risk of their platform being used to commit or facilitate criminal offences.

Ofcom would expect providers to deploy a temporary response team as soon as possible when a crisis occurs. They should also conduct a post-crisis analysis and keep a record of this, which they can formally request. This should include key decisions and evaluate the protocol’s effectiveness, so that lessons can be learned each time.  

Additionally, large platforms should establish a dedicated communication channel through which crisis-related information may be shared by law enforcement agencies, to support faster and more coordinated public safety efforts.