The Internet Watch Foundation has heralded a “pivotal moment” in online safety as new laws to help make the internet safer for children are adopted in the UK.
A new agreement between Ofcom and the Internet Watch Foundation has strengthened the UK’s commitment to cracking down on online child sexual abuse imagery.
The so-called social media ban is a revolutionary step, but is this a revolutionary moment for child safety?
As Ofcom’s Illegal Harms Codes come into force, platforms are required to implement robust measures to protect users from CSAM and illegal content.
Last month the UK Protection of children’s Codes came into force, requiring online platforms to prevent children from encountering harm online.
At Labour Party Conference 2026, the IWF hosted a panel with Online Safety Minister Ian Murray MP, Jess Phillips MP, Catherine Reader of FlippGen and IWF Chief Executive Kerry Smith. The discussion covered record levels of child sexual abuse material, the Government’s proposed feature-based restrictions on social media for under-16s, the risk of harm being displaced into encrypted spaces, and the need for faster Ofcom enforcement. Panellists agreed that no single measure is enough, and that safety must be built into technology, including AI, from the start.
IWF reveals 2024 as the worst year for online child sexual abuse imagery urging the Prime Minister to strengthen the Online Safety Act and close critical loopholes.
Tech Secretary sees ‘heartbreaking’ scale of online child sexual abuse on IWF hotline visit as ‘transformational’ online safety rules come into effect
IWF supports the Online Safety Act by helping adult sites detect, remove, and prevent child sexual abuse imagery online.