Ofcom Apologizes for “Ill-Judged” Job Advertisement Regarding Online Pornography Monitoring

Ofcom has issued an apology concerning an employee’s social media post, which the regulator acknowledged as “ill-judged.” The post advertised a position focused on overseeing pornographic websites to identify illicit material and prevent minors from accessing them. The LinkedIn post, authored by a senior staff member at the media regulatory body, contained the jocular statement: “Always wanted to work in porn but don’t have the feet for an OnlyFans? Now is your chance”. Baroness Kidron, a prominent advocate for children’s rights, informed the BBC that these remarks presented engagement with pornography companies as a “perk” and “trivialised” the significant concern of violence targeting women and girls. Through a statement provided to the BBC, Ofcom described the incident as “a mistake from a well-intentioned colleague wishing to attract attention to a recruitment post.” The regulator added, “They have recognised that the post was ill-judged and said sorry.” Ofcom further stated, “Ofcom takes its role as online safety regulator extremely seriously and we are focused on finding the best people to help us carry out the job.” Baroness Kidron, a crossbench peer actively campaigning for children’s online rights, mentioned receiving the advertisement from concerned individuals “dozens of times.” She indicated her reaction was a “scream of pain.” “Ofcom does not understand their role, they are all we have between us and they most powerful companies in the world, we need grown ups who want results that change people’s lives for the better,” she conveyed to the BBC. Gemma Kelly, who serves as the head of policy and public affairs at CEASE, also expressed strong criticism. She stated, “A representative of Ofcom – the organisation responsible for regulating harmful online content – making jokes about an industry which normalises violence against women, monetises sexual assault, and encourages objectification is completely reprehensible.” Other individuals employed within the charity sector responded to her comments, with one describing the Ofcom staff member’s post as “grossly offensive” and another characterizing it as “deeply inappropriate and disturbing.” The BBC inquired with Ofcom regarding these allegations and the reasons why other senior personnel within the organization had endorsed the initial post, but no response was provided. The LinkedIn post originated from an Ofcom employee who identifies himself as an “Online Safety Supervision Principal,” a role where he is “managing a team responsible for engagement with online pornography services.” In an update to his initial LinkedIn post, he wrote, “I wanted to hold my hands up and apologise for the tone of the post below.” He further stated, “It was poorly judged and I apologise for the offence I’ve caused.” He clarified that the advertised position entails “engaging with online pornography services” to counter illegal material and limit children’s access. He also noted that his team strives to comprehend current safety protocols and evaluate their effectiveness in safeguarding users. Ofcom is set to acquire extensive new enforcement authorities over pornographic websites and numerous other digital platforms, stemming from the Online Safety Act, which is scheduled to partially take effect in 2025. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC bears no responsibility for the content found on external websites. Information regarding our policy on external linking is available.