Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

Business

Former Google executive Gill Whitehead to lead regulator’s online safety team

Ofcom has appointed a former executive from Google to oversee its new role as regulator for online safety, ahead of new laws to police the internet which are due to be introduced in the UK next spring.

Gill Whitehead was a member of Google’s UK management group and also ran the Digital Regulation Co-operation Forum, which brought together bodies working on digital regulation. She will join in April.

The media regulator has been hiring technology and data experts and bringing in people from the big technology firms in order to boost its understanding of the sector as the new regime comes into force.

The Online Safety Bill will make technology companies more responsible and accountable for the content on their platforms. It also gives Ofcom the powers to fine them up to 10 per cent of worldwide revenue and to take other measures if they do not comply. About 25,000 businesses — mostly social media and search platforms and those that host user-generated content — will be affected, with the big companies having more responsibilities.

The bill has been a long time in the making, since its genesis in a 2017 green paper. This week the government removed one of the most controversial elements to address concerns that it restricted freedom of speech. Sections that covered “legal but harmful” content, referred to as “lawful but awful” seen by adults have been changed so that the government does not dictate a list of such harms. There are new measures to stop over-censorship by technology companies, and adult users will have the ability to filter out problematic content.

Whitehead said: “Being online brings huge benefits but right now it also comes with risk. Over time we can achieve a safer life online for everyone, and I’ve been impressed at how quickly Ofcom has developed its skills and brought in talent from across the tech sector. It will be a real privilege for me to lead those teams.”

Whitehead’s appointment brings the total number of directors at Ofcom who have come from big technology companies up to four. Sachin Jogia, chief technology officer, came from Amazon, Jessica Zucker joined the online safety policy team from Meta and Simon Redfern, director of communications, was formerly at Google.

Read more:
Former Google executive Gill Whitehead to lead regulator’s online safety team

Advertisement

    You May Also Like

    Investing

    RevisingTheBankSecrecyAct_NorbertMichelAndJenniferSchulp_CMFAWP007   The post Revising the Bank Secrecy Act to Protect Privacy and Deter Criminals (CMFA Working Paper No.007) appeared first on Alt-M.

    Investing

    Recently, an investment advisor and Bitcoin proponent tweeted the claim that “[f]or most of human history” the “[s]eparation of money and state was the...

    Business

    Rollee enables worker’s to share their professional data, spread over one or more financial platforms. Ali Hamriti, CEO and Co-Founder of Rollee, is on...

    Business

    The energy crisis means that as the price of wholesale commercial energy hits an unprecedented high, businesses must pay notably more for their energy...

    Disclaimer: successfuldealnow.com, its managers, its employees, and assigns (collectively “The Company”) do not make any guarantee or warranty about what is advertised above. Information provided by this website is for research purposes only and should not be considered as personalized financial advice. The Company is not affiliated with, nor does it receive compensation from, any specific security. The Company is not registered or licensed by any governing body in any jurisdiction to give investing advice or provide investment recommendation. Any investments recommended here should be taken into consideration only after consulting with your investment advisor and after reviewing the prospectus or financial statements of the company.

    Copyright © 2024 successfuldealnow.com | All Rights Reserved