On 18 August 2023, the Film and Publications Board of South Africa opened the public consultation on the Industry code on prevention of online harm, until 2 September 2023. The code aims to regulate the online distribution of harmful content such as child pornography, hate speech, and incitement to violence. The code applies to commercial online distributors and social media platforms. The code imposes obligations to prevent the hosting and distribution of prohibited content, ensure consumer support for reporting harmful material, and maintain records of take-down notices for three years. The code also requires implementation of safeguarding policies, collaborating with authorities to combat child sexual abuse material, and provide age verification tools and parental controls to protect children.
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