The UK’s rapidly-growing safety tech sector is helping make the online world safer for millions of people, a report published today shows
The independent study, Safer technology, safer users: The UK as a world leader in Safety Tech, highlights significant growth within the sector, with the number of dedicated online safety firms doubling in the last five years and investment increasing more than eight-fold in 2019, making it a record year.
It shows there are almost two thousand people working in more than 70 companies across the UK, including in London, Leeds, Cambridge and Edinburgh.
Leading UK firm Crisp, based in Leeds, has created new technology that is used to detect and remove harmful content from social media and online games, contributing to the safety of an estimated two billion worldwide users each day. While London-based SuperAwesome helps more than 300 of the world’s top brands ensure their online engagements with children meet strict data privacy requirements.
The research, carried out between September 2019 and March 2020, comes as the government launches a Safety Tech Innovation Network, the world’s first forum for safety tech providers to collaborate and showcase their work, alongside a scheme to boost exports.
Minister for Digital and Culture, Caroline Dinenage, said:
The companies highlighted in the report are providing tools to help protect users online and demonstrating the UK tech sector can be a central to tackling the challenge.
While the research for the report was carried out prior to the impact of coronavirus, high growth rates are still projected for the safety tech sector driven by increased demand for their products. The main findings of the report are:
The sector consists of companies in fields such as data and computer science providing a range of tech solutions and applications to help increase safety on websites and in apps and video games such as those allowing user-generated content and interactions.
Examples of British companies and the products and services they provide include:
To further capitalise on the sector’s success, and in response to the report’s recommendations, the government is today announcing:
ENDS
Further Quotes
Andy Burrows, head of child safety online policy, at NSPCC, said:
Ian Stevenson, Chair of the UK’s Online Safety Tech Industry Association (OSTIA) and CEO of Cyan Forensics, said:
Julie Inman Grant, Australian eSafety Commissioner, said:
Daniel Korski, CEO of PUBLIC, said:
Ellie Bradley, MD Registry and Public Benefit at Nominet said:
Notes to Editors
The launch of the ‘Safer technology, safer users’ report follows the establishment in April 2020 of the UK Online Safety Tech Industry Association, OSTIA which brings together the UK’s leading safety tech companies. These include Crisp, SafeToNet, Securium, Yoti, Cubica Technology, DragonflAI, GoBubble, Image Analyser, Qumodo, SuperAwesome, Securus Software, Trust Elevate, VigilAI and Child Safe VPN.
Alongside the Safety Tech Innovation Network, Expo and Export pilot, the government will also:
A podcast interview with the report authors will be released by SafeToNet Foundation on Wednesday 27 May, and will be available at the following URL: http://safetonetfoundation.libsyn.com.