Stopping illegal content going viral in a crisis

UK — Ofcom · 2026-06-09 · UK · verified record

Themes: Child safety & minors

Ecosystems: UK Online Safety Act

Ofcom is strengthening its online safety codes of practice by telling platforms they should have protocols in place to respond to spikes in illegal content during a crisis. If illegal content spreads rapidly online, it can pose a serious threat to public safety, as seen when online content fuelled violent riots following the 2024 Southport murders. Alternatively, a real-world crisis can cause a surge in illegal content online – for example, if a terrorist attack is livestreamed. Such crises are exceptional and occur infrequently, which means that tech firms’ usual moderation processes may not

Ofcom is strengthening its online safety codes of practice by telling platforms they should have protocols in place to respond to spikes in illegal content during a crisis. If illegal content spreads rapidly online, it can pose a serious threat to public safety, as seen when online content fuelled violent riots following the 2024 Southport murders. Alternatively, a real-world crisis can cause a surge in illegal content online – for example, if a terrorist attack is livestreamed. Such crises are exceptional and occur infrequently, which means that tech firms’ usual moderation processes may not …

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