Ofcom CEO warns tech companies to expect algorithm audits under OSA
31/10/2025 | Financial Times
Ofcom, the UK's communications regulator, is gearing up for the next phase of its regulatory enforcement of the Online Safety Act 2023 (OSA). In an interview with the Financial Times (£), Melanie Dawes, the Chief Executive of Ofcom, warned that tech companies will be subjected to audits of social media algorithms used to promote content to children. She went on to explain that the regulator will take action against any companies that cannot prove their algorithms prevent under-18s from seeing harmful content.
Dawes stated that the OSA is already showing "good early progress," with major social media and adult websites implementing age verification measures.
The regulator has also held talks with US tech companies on how to ensure age-verification measures can be built into AI platforms, such as ChatGPT.
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