Ofcom Demands Tech Firms Tackle Widespread Online Abuse

Published: 25 November 2025. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online

Technology firms are facing renewed pressure to address the “significant and widespread” online abuse targeting women, following new guidance from the UK’s internet and communications watchdog, Ofcom.

The regulator highlighted that women in sport, politics, and other public arenas endure “significant and widespread abuse online every day,” creating barriers to participation and engagement.

This concern was emphasised when Sport England chairman Chris Boardman contacted Ofcom regarding abuse directed at the England women’s team during Euro 2025, underlining the prevalence of hostile online behaviour.

Parliament’s youngest female MP, Rosie Wrighting, has also shared experiences of receiving insults such as “Barbie” and “stupid girl,” noting that many accomplished women have avoided politics due to such online harassment.

Ofcom’s guidance now urges social media, dating, gaming, and pornography platforms to take increased responsibility for safeguarding users and preventing harassment.

“In fact, it is actively harming their participation and even facilitating abuse,” the regulator warned. “Women in sport, in politics or any part of public life face significant and widespread abuse online every day.”

Setting out its guidance, Ofcom stressed the “urgent need for industry-wide action” to tackle the issue effectively.

The guidance, which Ofcom said goes beyond legal duties under the Online Safety Act, encourages firms to implement multiple measures. These include prompts asking users to reconsider before posting harmful content, imposing “timeouts” for repeat offenders, limiting the number of posts a single account can make, and enabling users to block or mute multiple accounts quickly.

It also recommends improved reporting tools and simpler methods for setting accounts to private, making it easier for victims to protect themselves from harassment.

Another recommendation is for firms to use automated “hash-matching” technology to detect and remove non-consensual intimate images, helping prevent the distribution of exploitative content.

Ofcom emphasises that tackling toxic online abuse is not just about compliance, but also about fostering safer online spaces where women can participate freely without fear of harassment.