Online Safety Taskforce Action Plan 2026/27

Improving mechanisms to identify and deal with perpetrators

Improving mechanisms to identify, stop, and deal with perpetrators and users effectively, recognising that in some instances they themselves may be a child or young person and have been a victim of this type of crime.

We will improve protection and enforcement of laws and regulation by improving support for practitioners to protect children and young people from online harms.

We are also taking action to identify and hold to account individuals who perpetrate or facilitate online harm whether through illegal actions or legal but harmful behaviour, using proportionate mechanisms including the criminal justice system.

Actions

• In 2026-27 Police Scotland will initiate plans to explore the latest Digital Forensic Technologies and tools; to empower front line officers by providing them with appropriate technology and training to capture digital evidence; to educate partners by delivering safety materials including launching a peer-to-peer resource project with Glasgow University and Police Scotland Youth Volunteers; and to adapt the response to online harms by using data analysis.
• The Scottish Government are consulting on potential new criminal law and associated measures to tackle online harm. That is in response to growing concerns about the effectiveness of existing legislation and the ability to make progress through the justice system. The consultation seeks views on proposals to create a new offence to criminalise the non-consensual creation of deepfake images. That is due to the growth of apps that enable people to create deepfake pornographic images of another person.
• We will consider and act on the findings and recommendations from the National Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation Strategic Group which brings together practitioners and experts to identify potential actions to drive improvements in workforce awareness, training and practice on child sexual abuse and exploitation, including online harm.
• Funding from the Scottish Government will support the UK Centre of Expertise on Child Sexual Abuse to undertake pilots of its Practice Leads Programme in Scottish local authorities in 2026-27. These will provide access to experts and resources to help build the skills and confidence of frontline practitioners in identifying and responding to child sexual abuse including online harms.