More than 70 risk assessments have been legally mandated from 40 of the ‘largest and riskiest’ sites and apps across the globe. 

Ofcom has suggested that these assessments are a crucial part of keeping users safe online, and act as guides to putting appropriate safety measures in place. The guardrails are supposed to keep all users safe – but with an emphasis on children. 

Risk audits allow platform owners to identify how their platforms and features could cause potential harm to users and enable them to put risk mitigation strategies in place. The UK’s Online Safety Act mandates that tech firms assess and mitigate risks of people encountering illegal content, and under-18s being exposed to certain types of harmful material (e.g. self-harm content and pornography).

Best practice suggests that these safety reviews are conducted annually and at critical times e.g. when a new design is being rolled out. In a move to hold tech firms to account, by the end of this year risk assessments will become public, allowing users to review potential platform risks and the provisions platform owners have put in place to mitigate them. 

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Failure to comply with these regulations can result in legal action, and in some cases financial penalties. 

Ofcom claimed this process is having the necessary effect. Last year Snapchat risk assessments were flagged by Ofcom as having concerning results – the organisation responded by putting additional safety measures in place, to reduce its illegal content risks. 

The risk assessments form part of broader regulation which tech companies are being pushed to adhere to in an effort to police online platforms.