Khaberni - The British government has announced the strengthening of its legal arsenal to face the giant tech companies, sending a stern warning to executives in companies like "Meta" (Meta), "X" (X), and "TikTok", stressing the need to remove sexual content, or face penalties including imprisonment.
According to Reuters, the main controversy in the British law focused on "criminal liability of directors". While the early drafts focused on financial penalties on companies, MPs in the British parliament pushed for clauses allowing for the prosecution of CEOs personally.
Under the new rules, the British Office of Communications (Ofcom), responsible for regulating communication services in Britain, can criminally pursue directors if they continuously fail to comply with orders to remove materials that incite harm, or include intimate images posted without consent (including those generated with artificial intelligence).
Reports on the subject indicated that the British Ministry of Justice has gone a step further by criminalizing the creation of intimate images using artificial intelligence, so that the punishment will not only be for those who publish the images but also for those who create them without the consent of the victim, with increased penalties if the aim is extortion or causing distress.
Additionally, the ministry demanded companies to develop proactive monitoring systems, and not wait until the content is reported.
The Clash with Tech Companies
Reuters conveyed tech companies and digital rights groups' concerns, where companies like WhatsApp warned that the government's demands for content monitoring could force them to weaken privacy protocols, while other companies believe that the standards set by Britain could lead to excessive censorship of legal content for fear of criminal penalties.
Reports confirm that fines for violating the new laws can reach up to 18 million pounds sterling (about 22.3 million dollars) or 10% of the annual global revenue, whichever is greater, but the "imprisonment" option remains the strongest weapon that London hopes will ensure an immediate response from the company heads in Silicon Valley.
According to observers, this move places the United Kingdom at the forefront of countries trying to curb digital power, shifting focus from company budgets to the personal freedom of their directors, in an attempt to enforce a new system of digital ethics.
