Ofcom commissioned PUBLIC to undertake an independent feasibility study into the accreditation scheme related to its Technology Notice power under the Online Safety Act 2023. The brief went far beyond simply assessing practicality.
The core challenge was to design, define, and address the implementation difficulties and monetary costs of establishing a robust, legally sound, and scalable accreditation process for technologies used to tackle two significantly common online harms: terrorism and Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (CSEA) content.
Each phase of the study needed to reconcile a fundamental conflict: it had to analyse the establishment of a scheme that was accessible, transparent, and proportionate for industry participation, whilst simultaneously designing a technically rigorous and legally defensible infrastructure for accessing, storing, and testing against highly restricted, illegal datasets. Throughout this, the scheme had to remain accountable and credible to applicants, policymakers, and the public.
To determine the feasibility of this tech accreditation process, PUBLIC developed a process map for establishing, operating, and maintaining the accreditation scheme. We also assessed the operations, costs, timing, and resource requirements, and identified relevant constraints, risks, and potential mitigations for the scheme.
To develop these outputs, we conducted interviews, delivered surveys, and gathered both quantitative and qualitative evidence through desk research.
PUBLIC delivered several outputs that were consolidated in a final report in August.
We provided a detailed delivery model through a significantly detailed process map. This map demonstrated the available options for carrying out this process and all the nuances associated with each step. In addition, PUBLIC delivered a financial model that enabled the client to estimate the monetary costs of implementing this scheme over a medium-term period (five years). This model was designed to allow the client to analyse costs across different delivery options, demand scenarios, and workforce compositions.
All these deliverables provided the client with sufficient resources to make an informed decision when defining whether or not the tech accreditation scheme is to be implemented.
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Discover how the very architecture of online platforms can facilitate harm and how a new, trauma-informed approach to design can proactively protect women and girls globally.
Navigating the era of AI safety and online regulation
Replaced localised knowledge with organisational intelligence
Transforming workforce strategy into a living, adaptive tool for long-term strategic delivery
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NHSX’s six-week, rapid-scouting TechForce19 challenge successfully identified, funded, and scaled 18 digital solutions to deliver "a significant and palpable improvement" in care for vulnerable and isolated people during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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PUBLIC led a UK government initiative to fund five organisations developing privacy-preserving technology to detect child sexual abuse material in encrypted environments.
Supporting a Distribution Network Operator to craft a modern, future-proof IT and Digital estate to help them achieve long term digital transformation
Helping Hackney Council build more user-friendly housing and benefits programmes and recover from a cyber incident with advanced data management
Developing a practical data strategy to help the OPSS advance its data maturity within essential data-reliant regulatory functions
Partnering with DCMS to operate the UK’s first Safety Tech Challenge Fund - a groundbreaking grant programme aimed at empowering safety tech innovation to enhance child online safety
Working with the Cambridge City Council (CCC) to build a clear, actionable digital transformation strategy to ultimately serve its communities
Through extensive desk research, use case development and stakeholder engagement, we recommended four areas of focus for the EHRC’s Strategic Plan relating to AI and equality and human rights.
Developing recommendations grounded in leading industry insights to empower DSIT to support the SafetyTech sector’s growth effectively and navigate potential challenges
Empowering DSIT to assess the Online Safety Bill’s effectiveness with a flexible M&E framework informed by robust research
Researching accreditation approaches across the technology sector to develop recommendations for a tailored accreditation process for the online safety tech industry
Comprehensive research to equip Ofcom with a deep understanding of online content accessibility via search services, informing online safety guidance
Crafting a comprehensive Interactive Services (IS) Model to provide Ofcom with a common framework for understanding user journeys and platform workflows
Conducting a detailed analysis of the emerging SafetyTech sector to enable DCMS to make informed decisions and continue supporting the sector’s expansion
Mapping the current state of the Age Assurance market, identifying representative use cases, and key challenges to help DCMS gain a more in-depth understanding of a rapidly evolving technology sector
Researching the existing taxonomy, prevalence, legislative and regulatory landscape, and emerging trends related to Child Financial Harms
Developing a ‘minimum-viable product’ for a standards framework to assess online safety compliance solutions
Through mixed methods user research we mapped the prevalence and impact of OVAWG, identified key dynamics characterising how these harms occur, and categorised 18 harm types.
Researched innovative design approaches that can support the safety of women and girls on online platforms and services.
Supporting the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) to build a new platform which provides access to UK regulation as enriched, machine-readable data
Connecting cross-government data to deliver better outcomes for people with complex needs
Building a practical, user-centred digital strategy through meaningful team engagement with clinical and non-clinical staff
Research, system-mapping and recommendations for Nominet's fund combatting illegal online harm.
Facilitating data access to catalyse innovation in the Safety Tech sector
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