Ofcom 'Reviewing' Upskirting Website Showing Hundreds of Women and Underaged Girls Filmed Across London

Ofcom is 'actively reviewing' online services after a Metro investigation uncovered a website carrying hundreds of upskirting videos filmed across London, including footage of people who appeared to have been secretly recorded.

The regulator said on September 3 that it had passed Metro's evidence to its online safety team and was examining whether services were complying with their duties under the Online Safety Act.

Metro reported that around 400 videos on the website showed people being followed in locations including Westfield Stratford, bus stops and Tube stations. The newspaper said the footage was publicly accessible through a site advertising access to the collection for £37.

Some of the people depicted appeared to be under 18, according to Metro, although their ages had not been independently established. Sources also found an accompanying Telegram channel with more than 1,600 subscribers.

The findings have brought renewed attention to the responsibilities of online services carrying non-consensual intimate material. Ofcom has previously said platforms covered by the Online Safety Act have legal responsibilities to protect people in the UK from illegal content, including non-consensual intimate imagery.

Ofcom Warns Upskirting Materials Are Illegal

Ofcom said it was concerned by what Metro had uncovered and confirmed that its online safety team had received the evidence.

'The law is clear that both upskirting and sharing any such content online is illegal,' Ofcom told Metro. 'We were deeply concerned to hear what the Metro has uncovered, and we are actively reviewing a number of sites' compliance with their duties under the Online Safety Act on these issues.'

The regulator's wider responsibilities under the Act are more specific than a blanket requirement applying to every website. Regulated online services can have duties to assess and mitigate risks from illegal content, provide reporting mechanisms and take appropriate action when they become aware of certain illegal material.

Ofcom has also imposed specific age assurance requirements on certain services, including pornography providers.

The agency has been increasingly active in enforcing the regime.

In January, it opened a formal investigation into X after concerns that its Grok service had been used to create and share undressed images of people, including material that could amount to intimate image abuse or child sexual abuse material.

The regulator can investigate whether regulated services have complied with their legal duties and can impose financial penalties where breaches are established.

Its role, however, is different from that of the police, who would deal with any suspected criminal offences involving people behind the website.

Ofcom also does not simply delete websites itself. Its regulatory powers concern the compliance of services with UK online safety law, while serious cases can involve further enforcement measures.

Police Urge Anyone Affected To Report Upskirting

The Metropolitan Police said it was aware of the concern raised by the investigation but did not confirm that it had opened an investigation into the website.

Detective Superintendent Dan Thompson, the Met's lead for violence against women and girls, said women should be able to feel safe across London and urged anyone affected to contact police.

'We would urge anyone who has been affected by this, or any other concerning behaviour, to report it to us,' Thompson said.

He added that the incident had not been reported to the Met, while acknowledging the concern it could cause.

The legal position around intimate imagery has also developed in recent years. Upskirting became a specific offence in England and Wales in 2019, while UK law also criminalises the non-consensual sharing of qualifying intimate images.

The Online Safety Act places additional responsibilities on regulated services to address illegal content on their platforms.

Ofcom has taken enforcement action against adult websites over age assurance. The regulator previously fined the operator of a nudification website £50,000 after finding that it had failed to use highly effective age assurance.

Ofcom's current review does not establish that the operators of the website have been found guilty of an offence. Nor has the Met confirmed criminal proceedings against them.

The regulatory question now concerns whether any services carrying the material have complied with their obligations under UK online safety law.