UK Probes Kick Online Entertainment Under Safety Law
LONDON (Reuters) -Britain's media regulator Ofcom has launched two investigations into pornography website operator Kick Online Entertainment S.A. under its online safety law, it said on Wednesday.
Ofcom said it had received complaints about potential illegal content on Kick's Motherless website, including child sexual abuse material and extreme pornography.
Britain's Online Safety Act, passed in 2023, sets tougher standards for platforms to tackle criminal activity, with an emphasis on child protection and illegal content.
Its enforcement has been introduced in stages, with Ofcom launching its first investigation of an individual service provider under the law just last month, when it began looking into the activities of an online suicide forum.
Ofcom said it had asked Kick to submit its illegal content risk assessment in order to review any compliance issues but received no response.
The regulator can require platforms to take specific measures to ensure compliance with the rules, or fine them up to 18 million pounds ($24 million) or 10% of qualifying worldwide revenue, whichever is greater.
($1 = 0.7496 pounds)
(Reporting by Muvija M, writing by Sachin Ravikumar; editing by Sarah Young)
