The UK and US governments have announced a new partnership between the two countries aimed at enhancing online child safety. This joint initiative will create a working group to share expertise and examine the effects of social media on children, with the goal of developing evidence-based policies.
UK Technology Secretary Peter Kyle said the agreement would turn the two countries’ “historic partnership” towards “delivering a safer online world for our next generation.”
Online safety is a global problem
Online safety is a global problem requiring a global solution, so this kind of collaboration is welcome for the industry. Anything that encourages consistency in approach between key nations will inevitably make it more viable for global tech platforms to implement solutions, ultimately making the internet a safer environment for all.
To date, the UK and Europe have led the way in online safety, most notably with the UK’s Online Safety Act and the EU’s Digital Services Act, while to date the US has been slower to advance key safeguarding measures at a federal level.
This partnership will foster many important discussions between the two countries. These include standardising data protection requirements and creating consistency in the demands placed upon tech platforms around age assurance and the prevention of the publication of harmful and illegal content online.
The tools and techniques to create the safe internet we all want already exist today. The challenge now is in implementation and ensuring all key sectors move in the right direction.
Collaboration is essential
Greater collaboration between governments is essential, as alignment will help platforms adopt and implement safety measures, such as age assurance, as consistently and seamlessly as possible. Allowing for innovation while giving clear guidance will increasingly support the effective implementation of safety measures in this space.
We’ve seen that widespread adoption relies on this kind of coordinated effort, so we’re cautiously optimistic about this new partnership between the UK and the US. That said, ‘historic partnerships’ and ‘joint working groups’ only result in positive outcomes if this collaboration leads to fast and effective enforcement of resulting future policies.
While some welcome the move, others, including the campaign group Smartphone Free Childhood, argue it may not be enough to protect children in the immediate future. The partnership also highlights the need for more access to data from tech companies to better understand online harms.
We look forward to watching the partnership unfold. If you provide services that host harmful or age-inappropriate content, Verifymy can support with the implementation of highly effective age assurance. Contact us to learn more.
