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Big tech must agreement with scam ads under Ofcom proposals
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Platforms like YouTube, Instagram and TikTok will need to take action to deal with scam adverts, under new proposals from Ofcom.
Key facts
- If the draft measures pass into law, firms which fail to comply could be made to pay £18m or 10% of global turnover
- whichever is greater
- Platforms face additional transparency and accountability requirements if they fall under Category 1, 2A and 2B, under the OSA
- It says it is also monitoring Apple's dedicated messaging service iMessage, Meta's Messenger and Threads, and Wikipedia as potential "emerging Category 1 services
- Ofcom is calling for views from industry and the public on its proposed measures in the form of a consultation, running until 2 October, external
Summary
The regulator has published draft measures it says big tech should take to protect people from falling victim to fraudulent ads online - along with a list of services which will face more responsibilities under the Online Safety Act (OSA). It says more than half of UK adults have come across potentially fraudulent ads online, with over a third seeing them often. If the draft measures pass into law, firms which fail to comply could be made to pay £18m or 10% of global turnover - whichever is greater. "For too long, victims have been exposed to scam ads online with tech giants simply not doing enough to combat the fraudsters using their platforms," said Ofcom online safety director Oliver Griffiths.