Transparency in the Regulation of Online Safety: Research Report for Ofcom 2021 (OFCOM)

A research paper from OFCOM

• From: Competition and Markets Authority
• Published: 25 March 2022

• Category: Ad hoc research
• Original publisher: Ofcom
• Research area: Advertising and marketing, Future connectivity and internet and Technology
• Research topic: Adtech, Artificial intelligence, Data and AI, Data privacy, access and control and Digital economy
  Show 3 more
  Internet usage and attitudes, Personalisation algorithm, and Safety and harms
• Research publish date: 1 May 2021

Abstract

In February 2021, Ofcom appointed PA Consulting to conduct a literature review of existing transparency schemes and reporting policies, and the extent to which they could be applied to improve online safety within a regulatory regime. Our priority for this research project was to answer the question: What models of transparency exist or have been suggested for use in transparency locally and internationally in other sectors, and online safety in particular? This work was commissioned as a concise study to identify and summarise the primary mechanisms of transparency to inform approaches for transparency initiatives in online safety. To achieve this, we followed an agile, mixed-methodology approach using a combination of a desk-based literature review, supported by interviews with regulators, thinktanks and academics from international organisations including the UK, USA, Australia, and the Netherlands.

Citation

PA Consulting, Transparency in the Regulation of Online Safety: Research Report for Ofcom (2021) [online] Available at: Transparency in the regulation of online safety (PDF, 2.1 MB) [Accessed 10 February 2022]

Link

https://www.ofcom.org.uk/research-and-data/internet-and-on-demand-research/online-nation

Published 25 March 2022