Ofcom Tightens UK Tech Rules on Deepfakes, Demanding 48-Hour Takedowns of Intimate Abuse
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · May 18
Ofcom Tightens UK Tech Rules on Deepfakes, Demanding 48-Hour Takedowns of Intimate Abuse
2 articles · Updated · The Guardian · May 18
Ofcom will rewrite its online safety codes to require social media, messaging apps and forums to detect and stop non-consensual intimate images, including AI-generated deepfakes, before they spread.
The tougher rules follow a rise in intimate image abuse that Ofcom says generative AI is worsening, alongside pressure from campaigners who had threatened legal action over the regulator’s response.
Hash-matching technology is central to the new code, with Ofcom urging platforms to automatically identify known abusive images and block them from being recirculated.
Keir Starmer said in February that deepfake nudes and "revenge porn" must be removed within 48 hours or tech firms could face being blocked in the UK.
The code is due to take effect in the autumn, subject to parliament, and campaigners welcomed the move while pressing Ofcom to go further by mandating proactive blocking tools.
With tech giants challenging its power, can Ofcom truly force global platforms to comply with its new deepfake rules?
While promoting AI for growth, can the UK government effectively police the 'national emergency' of AI-driven abuse?
UK’s 48-Hour Rule for Deepfake and Intimate Image Abuse: New Law, Enforcement, and Global Implications
Overview
The UK government has introduced a new law to tackle digital abuse, especially non-consensual intimate images and deepfakes, after growing public concern and strong campaigning from groups like Stop Image-Based Abuse. Victims had struggled to get harmful content removed, so the law now requires online platforms to take down such images within 48 hours of being reported. This swift action aims to reduce harm and distress for victims. The law, enacted through amendments to the Crime and Policing Bill, marks a significant step in holding tech companies accountable and making the internet safer for everyone.