A consultation has also been launched on wider reform of online advertising regulations to give more powers for regulators to handle harmful, offensive and misleading adverts

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The UK has brought major changes to the Online Safety Bill to tackle scams and fraud. (Credit: salcapolupo from Pixabay)

The British government said that it has made major changes to the Online Safety Bill with an aim to safeguard people from scam advertisements online.

According to the UK Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMA), one of the changes calls for social media sites and search engines to remove fraudsters and scammers on their platforms.

Social media sites and search engines, as per the new changes, will be responsible to protect users from fake stock market tips and ‘catfishing’ romance scams among others on their platforms.

UK Security Minister Damian Hinds: “Crimes like romance and investment fraud leave lifelong scars on their victims and can completely destroy their finances and ability to trust.

“Organised crime groups have discovered new ways to take full advantage of people, using increasingly sophisticated methods which would trick even the most scrupulous of individuals.”

The UK government is introducing a new duty to the Online Safety Bill for bringing fraudulent paid-for adverts on social media and search engines into scope, whether they are regulated by the platform itself or an advertising intermediary.

The DCMA stated that the change will enhance protections for internet users from the possibly devastating effect of fake ads. Some of the dangers include criminals impersonating celebrities or businesses to steal people’s personal data, breaking into bank accounts, or peddling shady financial investments.

The internet companies will be required to implement proportionate systems and processes to stop the publication and/or hosting of fake advertising on their platforms and take them off when they are notified of it.

As a result, social media firms and search engines will have to crack down on ads that come with unlicensed financial promotions, fraudsters impersonating businesses that are legitimate, as well as ads for fake businesses. Also included are social media posts by users that are ‘boosted’ for which they pay to get a wider promotion.

UK Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries said: “We want to protect people from online scams and have heard the calls to strengthen our new internet safety laws. These changes to the upcoming Online Safety bill will help stop fraudsters conning people out of their hard-earned cash using fake online adverts.”

The government also launched a consultation on broader reform of online advertising regulations to include greater powers for regulators for handling harmful, offensive and misleading adverts.

Last month, the UK government strengthened the Online Safety Bill by including a new list of criminal content that tech firms have to remove as a priority.