Response to the Ofcom Call for Evidence on the first phase of Online Safety Regulation

The Alan Turing Institute welcomed the opportunity to respond to Ofcom’s Call for Evidence regarding the forthcoming Online Safety Regulation.

We firmly believe that AI and data science can help solve online safety, although it is no ‘silver bullet’. By submitting this response we hope to contribute nuanced evidence of how to better protect users and prevent harm without unduly restricting user activity. We also propose multiple routes available to improve online safety by increasing industry transparency and strengthening reporting mechanisms for users. Solving online safety truly requires strong multi-stakeholder collaboration; this response draws on our own expertise and research, as well as that of the wider academic community, civil society initiatives, industry best-practice and public policy papers.