UK govt: Tech giants on board to bust online scams


Amazon, eBay, Facebook, Google, Instagram, LinkedIn, Match Group, Microsoft, Snapchat, TikTok, and YouTube have signed up to the Online Fraud Charter, which ministers say will better protect users. — Photo by Mariia Shalabaieva on Unsplash

LONDON: Eleven global tech giants have pledged to do more to tackle the scourge of online scammers, the UK government said on Nov 30, billing the promise as a world first.

Amazon, eBay, Facebook, Google, Instagram, LinkedIn, Match Group, Microsoft, Snapchat, TikTok, and YouTube have signed up to the Online Fraud Charter, which ministers say will better protect users.

The tech giants have promised to take tougher action within six months to block and remove scams, such as fake adverts and romance fraud, from their platforms.

Actions include verifying new advertisers, better checks on online marketplaces, and giving users of dating sites the opportunity to prove their real identity.

The voluntary charter, developed with the tech firms, will also seek to prevent ads for age-restricted products such as alcohol or gambling being seen by children.

Interior minister James Cleverly described the Online Fraud Charter as “a big step forward” towards protecting the public from “sophisticated, adaptable and highly organised criminals”.

“An agreement of this kind has never been done on this scale before and I am exceptionally pleased to see tech firms working with us to turn the tide against fraudsters,” he added.

The government said each signatory has vowed to work closely with law enforcement to target fraudsters, by reporting suspicious activity, helping to identify those responsible and removing the content.

Fraud makes up about 40% of all crime in England and Wales, while 80% of all authorised push payment fraud originates from social media or a fake website.

The deputy chief executive of the techUK trade association, Antony Walker, said the new measures build on those that tech firms already have in place.

But it will enable “better and more consistent cooperation between the private sector, government and law enforcement”, he added. – AFP

Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel for breaking news alerts and key updates!

Next In Tech News

Chinese auto giant BYD to integrate DeepSeek, broaden self-driving tech
Tech players announce launch of safety tools for AI
Trump's crypto company launches strategic 'token reserve'
Huawei boosts smartwatch sales by registering them as medical devices
NASA-SpaceX capsule switch poised to bring Starliner astronauts home days sooner
Super Micro to file delayed annual report by February deadline, shares rise
Google Maps displaying 'Gulf of America' for US users
Anduril takes over Microsoft's $22 billion US Army headset program
DeepSeek may face further regulatory actions, EU privacy watchdog says
OpenAI's board has not received Musk's takeover bid, source says

Others Also Read