Dame Melanie Dawes says the UK Government—not tech companies—should take greater responsibility for child safety in digital spaces.
In a powerful and candid statement this week, Ofcom CEO Dame Melanie Dawes emphasized that technology companies lack sufficient power and guidance to independently protect children online, placing the onus squarely on the UK Government to lead with strong, enforceable laws. As the UK regulator prepares to enforce the Online Safety Act, the debate over who holds ultimate responsibility for digital child protection continues to intensify.
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Speaking on the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, Dame Dawes clarified that the new online safety regulations—though aimed at pressuring Big Tech to reform their platforms—must come with governmental accountability, not just corporate policy shifts. “We don’t expect the platforms to write the law,” she stated firmly. “That’s the job of Parliament. And Parliament has done its job.”
With the Online Safety Act now passed, Ofcom is expected to roll out clear codes of conduct that companies like Meta, TikTok, YouTube, and Snapchat will need to follow. These guidelines will detail how platforms must identify, report, and prevent harmful content to children, from cyberbullying to exposure to pornography and self-harm material.
However, Dame Dawes emphasized that tech companies can’t be expected to self-regulate effectively without legal boundaries. “We’re not giving tech companies all the power,” she said. “We’re giving them clear rules, and we are enforcing them.”
This comes amid increased scrutiny from parents, educators, and safety advocates, who argue that tech giants have long failed to protect vulnerable users—particularly children. While platforms have introduced parental controls, AI-based content moderation, and age-verification systems, studies show that many of these tools are inconsistent and easy to bypass.
Dame Dawes’ statement aligns with growing public sentiment that Big Tech accountability must be enforced through regulation, not optional tools or vague community standards. “We’re holding the platforms to account,” she added, “but we’re not asking them to invent the standards themselves.”
The UK’s new legislation gives Ofcom regulatory authority to fine companies that fail to meet the new safety standards—up to 10% of their global turnover. This means some of the world’s largest tech firms could face billions in penalties if they don’t adequately address online risks to children.
The move is part of a broader international push for tech reform, with countries like Australia, Ireland, and Canada also exploring or implementing their own versions of child safety laws in the digital age.
While the Act has been praised for its ambition, some critics warn of potential overreach. Privacy campaigners are concerned about how online monitoring could affect freedom of speech and personal data protections. The challenge remains: how to balance safety with privacy and freedom of expression?
In response to these concerns, Dame Dawes assured the public that Ofcom’s approach will be evidence-based, transparent, and proportionate. “We won’t be monitoring individuals,” she said. “We’re focused on how platforms are designing their systems.”
Digital child safety has become one of the most pressing issues of the 2020s. The rise of social media usage among preteens and teenagers has brought new mental health challenges, from addiction to screen time to algorithm-driven content exposure that can distort reality or encourage risky behavior.
The Ofcom boss hopes that a structured and legally backed framework will help tech companies move from reactive to proactive in their design and moderation strategies. “It’s about creating a safer internet by design, not by accident,” she said.
As Ofcom rolls out its first set of codes later this year, all eyes will be on how both the regulator and the tech firms rise to the occasion—and how effectively they collaborate to make digital spaces safer for the next generation.