UK Targets Online Scams in Latest Internet Safety Drive
Top Line
The long awaited Online Security Bill is set to bring sanity to the internet space by regulating online content and speech. The U.K. Government is on the verge of shutting down online scams, alongside “unlicensed monetary promotions”, as it broadens the range of limitations in pace regarding what individuals can post on online platforms.
The impending online safety bill will enhance online security. The administration reiterated that among the aforementioned broadened scope, the law will mandate that social media platforms and search engines to not only stop, but eliminate deceitful adverts, comprising “bogus” financial market commands and “catfishing” swindles.
Most online scams are preventable. You can improve your online safety by hiding your online activities from prying eyes. You can hide your IP by just using VPN to remain guarded from ISP’s snooping eyes. A Virtual Private Network (VPN) encrypts your address and online activities, ensuring a safe channel between you and the internet.
Between the Lines
Going by the present draft, the act targets online users, aiming to protect them from fake advertisements that aim to gather user data. Hence, social media platforms, for instance Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, TikTok, WhatsApp, and all the search engines, including Mozilla, Chrome and Explorer, must establish comparable structures and procedures to halt the dissemination and/or accommodation of bogus ads on their services. Also, the platforms or search engines can flag fake advertisements when they spot them.
Advertisers must scrutinise the ads, with multiple vetting and revising of the ads, to ensure they are not fraudulent. That may result in late advertisements and higher rate cards given the high costs the reviewing procedures will attract. Legitimate advertisers will also be affected as they will have to part with a great sum for whitelisting by a company to expedite the publication of their adverts.
The media regulator, Ofcom, has taken it upon itself to publicize additional information on the ways sites might uphold the recommended protocols. The U.K. Government mentioned some of the processes, comprising ascertaining the characteristics of the person posting online advertisements or ensuring businesses that can cover the cost for the financial advertisement are just those with the monetary regulator’s authority.
The U. K’s Secretary of Culture, Nadine Dorries contributed to the ongoing discussions around the online security bill by stating that the law must keep up with the revolutionising technology. Furthermore, she thinks the modifications in the British Government regulation will streamline industry practices by enhancing responsibility, transparency, and ethical behaviour.
Given the rising number of rip-offs, the Online Safety Bill comes as a blessing. The U.K’s digital, culture, media, and sport secretary, Nadine Dorries was pleased to say this, “We want to protect people from online scams and have heard the calls to strengthen our new internet safety laws.”
Nevertheless, the forthcoming amendments to the trending online protection bill have faced backlash from some businesses. To support that, the trade organisation for technology start-ups, Coadec, says introducing the impending online safety act might have serious ramifications for over 300,000 businesses. That is because many online businesses that offer free services rely so much on advertisements as the main income source. Hence, the bill is likely to affect the internet economy significantly.
The U.K Government plans to commence a public consultation and launch scrutiny into existing advertising laws and inquire whether the regulators received proper funding and empowerment to perform their mandate. The Government trusts consumer harm has escalated given the quick technological revolutions, hence the call to amend the existing online security act.
The Government noted a consistent proliferation of bogus celebrity endorsements and seemingly genuine advertisements, that more often than not, comprise malware that is used to con unsuspecting internet consumers. The U.K Government notes the best option for tackling the worsening internet scam menace is through the creation of a novel statutory controller, with hard-hitting enforcement authorities. For instance, the capability to ban notorious publicists who continuously defy regulations and the act.
Bottom Line
The controversial Online Safety Act has undergone numerous changes in the previous year. One amendment that was very noticeable was the introduction of the “duty of care” directive that mandates online sites and search engine suppliers to safeguard customers, more so children, from illegitimate or unsafe content.
Additionally, the U.K. Government had gone the extra mile to initiate a much-needed online publicity program discussion to assess the regulative structure of commercial marketing. The program is made up of numerous suggestions for enhancing openness and answerability when circumventing deceitful and deceptive advertisements, which jeopardize a company’s image.
