The UK consumer rights organization, Which?, conducted a two-month investigation at the end of 2023 into popular social media and search platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X, YouTube, Google, and Bing. Their research uncovered numerous scam advertisements, indicating a significant oversight in these platforms' efforts to combat fraudulent content. This discovery comes despite impending regulations under the Online Safety Act, which mandates more stringent actions against such scams.
Rocio Concha, the organization's Director of Policy and Advocacy, highlighted the ongoing failure of these major platforms to shield their users from deceptive ads. With new laws on the horizon, there's a call for Ofcom to implement a code of conduct that ensures platforms proactively identify and remove these scams. The group is also advocating for the appointment of a fraud minister to spearhead a unified strategy against the UK's rising fraud issue.
The organization emphasizes that while platforms bear the primary responsibility for protecting their audience, individuals can also take measures to guard against fraud. They recommend consulting the government's Stop! Think Fraud website for tips on staying safe.
Responses from companies like Microsoft, TikTok, Meta, and Google indicate they are taking steps to address scam advertisements. However, the consumer group believes more robust actions are necessary. With Ofcom's enforcement pending, companies might soon face penalties if they fail to adequately protect their users, potentially prompting a more aggressive approach to eliminating fraudulent ads.
Image: Digital Information World - AIgen
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Rocio Concha, the organization's Director of Policy and Advocacy, highlighted the ongoing failure of these major platforms to shield their users from deceptive ads. With new laws on the horizon, there's a call for Ofcom to implement a code of conduct that ensures platforms proactively identify and remove these scams. The group is also advocating for the appointment of a fraud minister to spearhead a unified strategy against the UK's rising fraud issue.
The organization emphasizes that while platforms bear the primary responsibility for protecting their audience, individuals can also take measures to guard against fraud. They recommend consulting the government's Stop! Think Fraud website for tips on staying safe.
Responses from companies like Microsoft, TikTok, Meta, and Google indicate they are taking steps to address scam advertisements. However, the consumer group believes more robust actions are necessary. With Ofcom's enforcement pending, companies might soon face penalties if they fail to adequately protect their users, potentially prompting a more aggressive approach to eliminating fraudulent ads.
Read next: Study Shows YouTube Doesn't Make People More Extreme
