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Ofcom notes that women and girls routinely encounter disproportional abuse online, in forms such as sexual violence, coercive control, and even targeted pile-ons.
The UK’s online safety communications regulator, Ofcom, has dropped a new set of guidelines urging tech companies to dramatically strengthen protections for women and girls facing rising levels of online abuse.
The regulator’s new framework lays out steps and suggestions for combating misogynistic content, stalking, intimate image abuse, and coordinated harassment, setting what it describes as “a new and ambitious standard” for digital safety in the UK.
Dame Melanie Dawes, Ofcom’s Chief Executive, says, “When I listen to women and girls who’ve experienced online abuse, their stories are deeply shocking. Survivors describe how a single image shared without their consent shattered their sense of self and safety. Journalists, politicians, and athletes face relentless trolling while simply doing their jobs. No woman should have to think twice before expressing herself online or worry about an abuser tracking her location.
Women and girls, Ofcom notes, routinely encounter disproportional abuse online, in forms such as sexual violence, coercive control, and even targeted pile-ons that can quickly escalate across social platforms.
To address this, the guidance urges tech firms to adopt a series of proactive design and policy interventions. These include prompts asking users to reconsider harmful posts, time-outs for repeat abusers, diversification measures within recommender algorithms to prevent toxic echo chambers, and stronger reporting tools that allow victims to block or mute multiple accounts simultaneously.
A central focus is the growing threat of intimate image abuse, including deepfakes and non-consensual image sharing. Ofcom recommends the widespread adoption of hash-matching technology and digital fingerprinting tools that allow platforms to rapidly detect and remove such imagery. The regulator has signaled plans to consult on making this technology mandatory under the Online Safety Act.
The new guidelines also arrive amid heightened political scrutiny. Technology Secretary Liz Kendall recently warned that Ofcom risks losing public trust if it fails to enforce the Online Safety Act robustly, citing concerns that the rapid evolution of AI chatbots and tools may outpace regulatory safeguards.
Kendall stressed that tech platforms must recognize their responsibility in preventing online misogyny.
Several prominent groups spoke out in support of Ofcom’s decision to release its new guidelines. Sports organisations, including Sport England and the Women’s Super League, endorsed the guidance, as female athletes have been facing escalating abuse.
Nikki Doucet, CEO of WSL Football, says, “Abuse directed at female athletes is persistent and horrific. We have engaged in honest, constructive discussions with social media companies to find ways to drive meaningful change, and we welcome Ofcom’s guidance released today, which represents another vital step forward, putting accountability and practical solutions at the forefront. This represents a potentially game changing moment towards protecting our athletes and women in sport for the future.”
Advocacy groups like Refuge, which provided survivor insights during the development process, supported the move as well, while saying that the impact of Ofcom’s suggestions will ultimately depend on whether companies take decisive action.
Ofcom plans to meet with major platforms in the coming months and will publish a public progress report in 2027, a move designed to hold companies accountable should voluntary compliance fall short.
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Madeline is a content writer specializing in copywriting and content creation. After studying Art and earning her BFA in Creative Writing at Salisbury University she applied her knowledge of writing and design to develop creative and influential copy. She has since formed her business, Clarke Content, LLC, through which she produces entertaining, informational content and represents companies with professionalism and taste.
