The UK government has announced it is to fine tech platforms and their executives up to £70,000 if they fail to remove “unacceptable content circulating online that advertises deadly and illegal knives and other offensive weapons to young people – or which glorifies or incites violence” within 48 hours.
The UK government is to fine tech platforms and their executives up to £70,000 if they fail to remove a post relating to knife crime.
As part of the government’s Plan for Change, they have vowed to hit tech platforms in the pocket, meaning in addition to the £10,000 fine for individual tech bosses whose platforms fail to remove “unacceptable content circulating online that advertises deadly and illegal knives and other offensive weapons to young people – or which glorifies or incites violence” within 48 hours, the company will also be charged up to £60,000.
Crime and Policing Minister, Dame Diana Johnson said: “The kind of content that young people scroll through every day online is sickening and I will not accept any notion that restricting access to this harmful material is too difficult.
“Our children need more from us. That is why we are now going further than ever to hold to account the tech companies who are not doing enough to safeguard young people from content which incites violence, particularly in young boys.
“Curbing the impact of this kind of content will be key for our mission to halve knife crime, but more widely our Plan for Change across government to do more protect young people from damaging and dangerous content.”
If companies fail to comply with such measures, they will be hit with a Civil Penalty Notice.
Tech firms and executives face up to £70k fine for each knife crime post left up over 48 hours
