UK signs anti-fraud deal with tech companies

The British government will sign an unprecedented deal on Thursday with around ten tech companies to fight online fraud and protect users, according to a press release.

By signing this charter, Amazon, LinkedIn, Instagram and TikTok are fighting against fraud or false advertising by more carefully blocking or removing fraudulent content from their sites, the British Home Office described.

According to the government, the deal, “the first of its kind in the world”, will be signed in London in the morning during a meeting hosted by Home Secretary James Wise.

“Fraud is now the most common crime in the UK, with online fraudsters targeting vulnerable people… Together with these tech giants, we will continue to crack down on fraudsters,” announced British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. liberation

The signatories to the agreement, which include eBay, Microsoft, Facebook, Google, Youtube, Match Group (Tinder, OkCupid…) and Snapchat, must drastically reduce illegal advertising of alcohol or betting viewed by minors.

The identity of users of dating sites should also be subject to more thorough controls.

Cooperation with law enforcement

Tech companies are also committed to strengthening their cooperation with British law enforcement, making it easier to report suspicious activity so fraudulent content can be quickly identified and removed.

According to the UK Home Office, “fraud accounts for 40% of crime in England and Wales”, with almost three million incidents in 2022.

Around £580m (more than €670m) was stolen from British consumers in the first half of 2023 through fraud or scams, mostly online, according to a report released in late October by UK Finance, the association of the powerful British financial sector.

80% of “authenticated” scams – when fraudsters and criminals lie, give victims personal information or transfer money – occur through social media or fake websites, he added.