The Global Online Safety Regulators Network

The Global Online Safety Regulators Network brings together independent regulators to cooperate across jurisdictions. We do this by sharing information, best practice, expertise, and experience, to support coherent and coordinated approaches to online safety issues.

The rules and procedures of the Network are set out in the Terms of Reference.

The Network has established working groups to promote collaboration and pursue strategic priorities. This year, there are working groups on: Risk Assessments and the Supervision of Platforms.

The Network also participates in a range of international events and forums to engage with global audiences and promote online safety, and is an observer to the Global Privacy Assembly.

In October 2024, the Network published the Online Safety Regulatory Index, collating members' approaches to online safety regulation.

The Index is designed to support comparison of online safety regulatory frameworks, collaboration between regulators and regulatory coherence. By understanding the areas of consistency and divergence in regulations, regulators can aim to ensure that the online safety of internet users in our respective countries does not stop ‘at the border’ and that companies can benefit from economies of scale.

Use the Index to better understand the online safety regulatory environment of member countries.

Membership of the Global Online Safety Regulators Network is open to regulators with legislated online safety functions, who meet criteria on independence from political and commercial interference, and are committed to upholding human rights, democracy and the rule of law.

Current members include:

• eSafety Commissioner – Australia[https://www.esafety.gov.au/homepage]
• Arcom – FranceExternal link[https://www.arcom.fr/]
• Autoriteit online Terroristisch en Kinderpornografisch Material (ATKM) – the NetherlandsExternal link[https://www.atkm.nl/]
• Coimisiún na Meán – IrelandExternal link[https://www.cnam.ie/coimisiun-na-mean-sets-out-plans-to-enhance-online-safety-and-to-regulate-and-support-irish-media-sector/] (Vice Chair)
• Council for Media Services – SlovakiaExternal link[https://rpms.sk/]
• Film and Publication Board – South AfricaExternal link[https://www.fpb.org.za/]
• Korea Communications Standards Commission – Republic of KoreaExternal link[https://www.kocsc.or.kr/eng/mainPage.do]
• Office of Communications (Ofcom) – United KingdomExternal link[https://www.ofcom.org.uk/home] (Chair)
• Online Safety Commission – FijiExternal link[https://onlinesafetycommission.com/] 

The Network also wants to engage those who are looking to establish online safety regulation or are eager to learn from the shared experiences of this group of like-minded regulators. The Network might give observer status to different groups as the Network progresses and regulatory frameworks develop.
 
Observers will be organisations and stakeholders working on online safety issues and committed to working collaboratively with independent online safety regulators. This can include civil society, policymakers, multilateral organisations, and industry groups.

Current observers include:

• 5RightsExternal link[https://5rightsfoundation.com/]
• Childlight – Global Child Safety InstituteExternal link[https://childlight.org/]
• Department of Canadian Heritage – CanadaExternal link[https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/corporate/mandate.html]
• European Parliament Intergroup on Children's RightsExternal link[https://www.europarl.europa.eu/meps/en/about/groupings] 
• Family Online Safety Institute – GlobalExternal link[https://www.fosi.org/]
• Freiwillige Selbstkontrolle Multimedia-Diensteanbieter e.V. (FSM) – GermanyExternal link[https://www.fsm.de/en/]
• INHOPEExternal link[https://www.inhope.org/EN]
• Integrity InstituteExternal link[https://integrityinstitute.org/]
• Internet Watch FoundationExternal link[https://www.iwf.org.uk/]
• National Communications Commission (Taiwan)External link[https://www.ncc.gov.tw/english/]
• National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC)External link[https://www.missingkids.org/home]
• National Media Commission (Ghana)External link[https://www.nmc.org.gh/]
• Netsafe – New ZealandExternal link[https://netsafe.org.nz/]
• NYU Stern Center for Business and Human RightsExternal link[https://bhr.stern.nyu.edu/]
• Red PapazExternal link[https://www.redpapaz.org/]
• Te Mana Whakaatu | Classification Office – New ZealandExternal link[https://www.classificationoffice.govt.nz/]
• The Canadian Centre for Child Protection – CanadaExternal link[https://www.protectchildren.ca/]
• WeProtect Global AllianceExternal link[https://www.weprotect.org/]

If you would like more information, or to receive a member or observer application form, please email current chair of the Network – Ofcom: Ofcom.International@ofcom.org.uk[mailto:Ofcom.International@ofcom.org.uk]

As part of its global leadership in online safety, the Network drafts position statements on online safety issues with input and collaboration from all members.

Position statements focus on online safety issues and aim to deliver the objective of establishing a respected, clear and influential collective voice of independent online safety regulators

Position Statement on human rights and online safety

This statement articulates the Network’s shared commitment to championing a human rights-based approach to online safety regulation and harm prevention.

Position Statement on regulatory coherence and coordination 

This statement articulates the Network’s approach to regulatory coherence and coordination, including setting out our activities for pursuing coordination, the benefits of regulatory coherence, and the opportunity costs of not doing so.