UK regulator tells online services to 'act now' to stop riots

Police officers keep watch during a counter demonstration against an anti-immigration protest called by far-right activists. — AFP

The UK telecommunications regulator urged online service providers to take action to stop customers from using their platforms to incite violence, even though Ofcom’s new rules with stronger requirements to police online content aren’t yet in effect.

"In a few months, new safety duties under the Online Safety Act will be in place, but you can act now - there is no need to wait to make your sites and apps safer for users,” said Gill Whitehead, Ofcom’s director for online safety, in a letter posted to the regulator’s website on Wednesday.