Campaigners urge government to make online safety guidance legally binding

Domestic abuse organisations are calling for the government and Ofcom to implement legally binding measures to protect women and girls from online violence and abuse, particularly concerning the rise of AI-enabled harm. A recent joint report by Refuge and The End Violence Against Women Coalition (EVAW) revealed that a third of women across the UK have experienced some form of online abuse.

Concerns over AI and online safety

Read Next in News London4 min read

Hillingdon Council reconsiders rent hikes after shop owner protest

Shopkeepers walked out of a council meeting after plans to double rents were met with a partial concession.

The report, published last week, highlighted significant worries about the safety of artificial intelligence. It found that one in six women aged between 16 and 24 have received inappropriate, unhealthy, or unsafe advice from AI concerning dating, sex, and relationships. This finding underscores a broader concern among surveyed women, with two-thirds expressing worry that AI facilitates abuse and violence against them. Furthermore, the same proportion lacked confidence in the government's efforts to regulate AI for women's safety.

Gemma Sherrington, CEO of Refuge, stated that voluntary guidance does not possess the necessary authority to combat the extensive abuse women and girls encounter online daily. She added that the report demonstrates the significant harm experienced by women and their lack of faith in tech companies, the justice system, and policymakers to provide adequate protection.

Mayor's fund and Ofcom's inquiry

Related Borough Coverage3 min read

Mayor rejects bus driver rights bill

Sadiq Khan agrees to three of 12 demands for improved working conditions, including toilets and air conditioning.

This situation follows the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan's, establishment of a £6 million fund in May aimed at supporting victims of tech-enabled violence against women and girls (VAWG). Since taking office, Mr Khan has invested £318 million to address VAWG. He described tech-enabled VAWG as a global emergency that transcends borders, turning everyday technology into tools for perpetrators.

In September, Ofcom initiated a call for evidence to assess the extent to which online companies have adopted their voluntary best practice guidance, titled 'A Safer Life Online for Women and Girls'. An Ofcom spokesperson indicated they are gathering information from academics and victim support groups to compile a report on industry progress in mitigating online harms for women and girls.

Calls for legally binding regulation

While the Online Safety Act allows Ofcom to recommend strengthening measures and imposes fines on platforms for failing to remove illegal content, only the government and parliament have the authority to make safety guidance legally binding. Tara Steele, director of the Safe AI for children alliance, agreed that AI regulation needs to be more comprehensive, noting that individuals have limited recourse against certain harms, such as the creation of sexualised images from their photographs. She stressed that companies must be accountable for what their systems generate and encourage, not just what users direct.

A government spokesperson acknowledged the report's findings, stating that tech companies must utilise their available tools to protect women or risk normalising abuse. The spokesperson conceded that more action is required.

Next steps

The deadline for submitting responses to Ofcom's call for evidence is 5pm on 4 November 2026. Support for tech-facilitated abuse is available via www.refugetechsafety.org.