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ARTICLE · 08 OCTOBER 2021

Ofcom Issues New Guidance For Video Sharing Platforms To Address 'harmful' Content

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Ofcom has issued new guidance for video sharing platforms to better protect users from harmful content.

United StatesMedia, Telecoms, IT, Entertainment
Geraint Lloyd-Taylor (Lewis Silkin LLP)
Geraint Lloyd-Taylor (Lewis Silkin LLP)
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Ofcom has issued new guidance for video sharing platforms to better protect users from harmful content. 

This is not part of the Online Safety Bill (formerly the Online Harms Bill), which is still taking shape, but Ofcom will be the regulator for online harms too, so it might provide some useful insights into Ofcom's approach.

Video-sharing platforms (VSPs) are a type of online video service where users can upload and share videos with other platform users. They allow people to engage with a wide range of content and social features.

VSPs established in the UK (including some big names such as Snapchat, TikTok, Twitch and Vimeo) are required by law to take measures to protect under-18s from potentially harmful video content; and all users from videos likely to incite violence or hatred, as well as certain types of criminal content.

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