MORE than a third of respondents to a high-level government consultation say their privacy has been violated by harmful online content – but new laws to make removal easier are not expected until at least 2027.
A consultation response published by the government yesterday revealed strong support for changes that would, for the first time, give individuals a statutory right to demand the removal of illegal material or content that breaches a platform’s own rules.
More than 80% of respondents backed the proposal, while over three-quarters supported new privacy protections aimed at tackling distressing images shared without consent.
The findings were drawn from 96 formal submissions alongside input from more than 100 young people.
Assistant Economic Development Minister Moz Scott, who has responsibility for cybersecurity, said: “It’s important that Islanders’ voices are heard as we look to shape online-safety frameworks in Jersey, and I thank everyone who engaged with this consultation.
“We know how distressing online bullying and the publication of harmful content can be, and our ambition is to ensure that the proposals will help protect Islanders of all ages by addressing their concerns.”
Those concerns are primarily centred on a recognition that current systems are not working.
Respondents repeatedly described existing reporting mechanisms on social media platforms as confusing, inconsistent and slow.
Many said they had little confidence that complaints would be handled properly – or at all.
The consultation report notes that current takedown processes are often “dependent on voluntary cooperation from service providers” and can be “difficult to navigate”.
For many Islanders, this has left victims of online abuse, harassment and privacy violations with few effective options.
Around 35% of respondents said they had personally experienced online content that violated their privacy, yet fewer than half of those had attempted to have it removed.
More than 75% of respondents supported measures to remove intimate images shared without consent, photos taken during vulnerable moments, and content used to bully or harass.
Many highlighted the severe emotional and psychological impact such material can have, especially on young people.
The consultation found that children and teenagers are both more exposed to online risks and more vulnerable to harm, with feedback from the School Council Network reinforcing calls for stronger protections.
Young participants said they felt safer when they had control over what was shared about them, and reported that a lack of consent or unexpected sharing of images often led to “discomfort, embarrassment or harm”.
The research also revealed that young people are more likely to turn to trusted adults such as teachers or coaches – rather than formal safeguarding channels – when things go wrong online.
“This was a valuable insight which indicated that future guidance and policies, to support successful implementation of the legislation will need to be targeted at relevant trusted adults,” the consultation said.
While there was broad agreement on the need for action, opinion was more divided on how quickly platforms should be required to respond.
The government has proposed a 48-hour deadline for companies to acknowledge and act on removal requests. Around 70% supported the principle, but many argued this was not fast enough for the most serious cases.
Some suggested that highly sensitive material – such as intimate images or threats – should be dealt with within 24 or even 12 hours.
However, others warned that strict deadlines could have unintended consequences.
There were concerns that platforms might resort to automated decision-making or “over-removal” of content to meet targets, potentially undermining freedom of expression.
The most contentious issue is enforcement. A majority of respondents supported the idea of giving Islanders the right to escalate complaints to a local authority – such as the Jersey Office of the Information Commissioner – if platforms fail to act.
Many argued that without a local body with real powers, the legislation would have little practical effect.
The report found there was a “general assumption that regulatory pressure makes it more likely that major technology companies respond timely”.
But respondents repeatedly questioned whether a small jurisdiction like Jersey could realistically enforce rules against multinational companies based overseas.
Concerns were also raised about the potential cost to taxpayers, particularly if enforcement requires lengthy legal battles or international cooperation.
“Recognising these comments, the policy intent remains to align recommendations for Jersey with already established frameworks, for example within the EU or UK,” the report said.
Nearly half (48%) of respondents said they would rather see companies withdraw from the Jersey market altogether than weaken privacy protections to accommodate them.
Alongside strong support for tougher rules, there was also a clear warning against overreach.
Respondents stressed the importance of protecting journalism, satire and public-interest reporting.
“The government acknowledges this and will continue to ensure a balanced approach as policy is refined,” the report said.
There were calls for careful drafting of any new laws to avoid vague or subjective definitions that could be misused.
Terms such as “distress” or “harm” were highlighted as potentially open to interpretation, raising fears that individuals could use privacy rights to suppress legitimate content.
The government has acknowledged these concerns, stating that any legislation will need to be developed in a “restrictive and precise manner to avoid misinterpretation”.
The consultation findings will feed into the development of a draft law for Jersey to enhance ease of removal for illegal online content and to increase privacy rights for
individuals.
Development of the proposed draft law “remains a priority” for 2026, according to the report.
Officers will continue ongoing regulatory dialogue with the Jersey Office of the Information Commissioner throughout the law-drafting process, given its “potential
role as the authority responsible for enforcement”.
The draft law will be subject to a further round of Island-wide consultation before being lodged for debate by the States Assembly.
“Pending on priorities of the new Council of Ministers and decisions made by the Assembly, it is anticipated that a law regulating content removal and online privacy will be lodged with the Assembly during 2027,” the report concluded.
