PolicyBristol and REPHRAIN Intern Josie Curtis coordinated the cross-centre, interdisciplinary response from REPHRAIN researchers. Hailing from diverse backgrounds, from computer science to psychology, the researchers have provided a comprehensive, valuable contribution to the crucial issue of child safety online. Josie met with the researchers individually and helped to collate the response, linking REPHRAIN’s research to Ofcom’s proposals throughout.

Amongst REPHRAIN’s recommendations, they argue that Ofcom should:

• Ensure children’s rights are protected in the digital world, including not only the right to privacy, but the rights to wellbeing, development, and agency.
• Broaden their focus from ‘content’ harms to ‘conduct’, ‘contact’, and ‘contract’.
• Account for non-web-based online environments such as social virtual reality (VR).
• Consider the responsibilities of platform owners, rather than only service providers.
• Draw upon more extensive research, including more primary research with children.
  

Read the full response here: tinyurl.com/26d3cacz