UK going ‘backwards’ on online safety, Molly Russell’s father tells Starmer
2 months, 2 weeks ago

UK going ‘backwards’ on online safety, Molly Russell’s father tells Starmer

Hindustan Times  

The father of a teenage girl who killed herself after viewing harmful content on social media has told Sir Keir Starmer that the UK is “going backwards” on online safety. Ian Russell, chairman of the Molly Rose Foundation, in a letter to the Prime Minister on Saturday, said regulator Ofcom’s implementation of the Online Safety Act has been a “disaster”. A No 10 spokesperson said the Prime Minister thanked Mr Russell for the letter and acknowledged the “immense bravery” of him and other families campaigning for children’s online safety. “Social media platforms must step up to their responsibilities and take robust action to protect children from seeing harmful content on their sites.” An Ofcom spokesperson said: “We recognise the profound pain caused by harmful content online, and our deepest sympathies remain with Ian Russell and all those who have suffered unimaginable loss.

Social Media Children Online Act Harmful Content Ofcom Online Safety Media Platforms Mr Russell Molly Russell Safety Molly Russell Safety Molly  russells  father  backwards  online  media  platforms  safety  molly  russell  content  mr  uk  children  tells  social  going  starmer  act

History of this topic

Ofcom tells social media sites to reveal how they will stop illegal content
3 weeks, 3 days ago

Ofcom tells social media sites to reveal how they will stop illegal content

The Independent  

Sign up to our free weekly IndyTech newsletter delivered straight to your inbox Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. The regulator said platforms had until March 31 to send Ofcom their first risk assessment, setting out …

Ofcom criticised over ‘checklist’ approach to Online Safety Act
1 month ago

Ofcom criticised over ‘checklist’ approach to Online Safety Act

The Independent  

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Andy Burrows, chief executive of the Molly Rose Foundation, said new online safety laws have …

Ofcom to ‘shine light’ on sites not doing enough to protect women and girls
1 month ago

Ofcom to ‘shine light’ on sites not doing enough to protect women and girls

The Independent  

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. The online safety regulator said that as well as enforcing new legally binding rules around …

Ofcom to ‘shine light’ on sites not doing enough to protect women and girls
1 month ago

Ofcom to ‘shine light’ on sites not doing enough to protect women and girls

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. The online safety regulator said that as well as …

Adult content and radicalisation – the sinister realities of the Online Safety Act
1 month, 2 weeks ago

Adult content and radicalisation – the sinister realities of the Online Safety Act

The Independent  

As the Online Safety Act begins its phased implementation, the UK government claims the legislation will create a safer digital world for children. One of the most touted aspects of the Online Safety Act is the mandatory age verification for sites hosting adult content. Just as we saw with previous attempts to regulate online content, younger children will still stumble …

Meta’s ‘bonfire’ of safety policies a danger to children, charity says
1 month, 3 weeks ago

Meta’s ‘bonfire’ of safety policies a danger to children, charity says

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. “Amid a strategic rollback of their safety commitments, preventable …

Jools’ Law: Mother battling social media firms for answers over son’s death urges MPs to act
2 months, 2 weeks ago

Jools’ Law: Mother battling social media firms for answers over son’s death urges MPs to act

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Ellen Roome, 48, has been left not knowing why her son Jools Sweeney died …

UK's Online Safety laws ‘not up for negotiation’, says UK PM Starmer's cabinet to Big Tech
2 months, 2 weeks ago

UK's Online Safety laws ‘not up for negotiation’, says UK PM Starmer's cabinet to Big Tech

Firstpost  

UK’s Online Safety Act, passed last year, requires social media platforms to remove illegal content, enforce content moderation, and give users tools to filter harmful material. While not explicitly naming the UK, Zuckerberg criticised Europe for its growing legal frameworks The UK government has made it clear that its online safety laws, designed to protect children and vulnerable individuals, are …

Tech giants must obey UK’s online safety laws, says minister
2 months, 2 weeks ago

Tech giants must obey UK’s online safety laws, says minister

Hindustan Times  

British law has not changed and tech giants must still obey it, the Science Secretary has said in response to Meta’s decision to do away with content moderation teams. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced on Tuesday that his social media platforms would replace their longstanding fact-checking programme with a “community notes” system similar to Elon Musk’s X platform. Mr Zuckerberg …

Tech giants must obey UK’s online safety laws, says minister
Trending News
2 months, 2 weeks ago

Tech giants must obey UK’s online safety laws, says minister

The Independent  

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. But online safety campaigners have expressed concern that it will allow misinformation to sp Asked …

UK going ‘backwards’ on online safety, Molly Russell’s father tells Starmer
2 months, 2 weeks ago

UK going ‘backwards’ on online safety, Molly Russell’s father tells Starmer

The Independent  

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The father of a teenage girl who killed herself after viewing …

Tech minister says Australia-style social media ban for under-16s is now highly unlikely - weeks after suggesting idea was 'on the table' unless online giants did more to protect vulnerable children
2 months, 3 weeks ago

Tech minister says Australia-style social media ban for under-16s is now highly unlikely - weeks after suggesting idea was 'on the table' unless online giants did more to protect vulnerable children

Daily Mail  

The technology minister has said an Australia-style social media ban for under-16s is now highly unlikely. The Act will see new safety duties placed on social media platforms for the first time, requiring them to protect users, and in particular children, from harmful content. Peter Kyle previously said a ban was 'on the table' if companies do not take stronger …

Australia’s social media ban won’t protect kids – it’ll put them more at risk
3 months ago

Australia’s social media ban won’t protect kids – it’ll put them more at risk

The Independent  

It’s hard to know what to gift teenagers at Christmas. Beyond the ongoing debate over TikTok’s future in the US, Australia has recently made the decision to ban children under 16 from social media – a policy which the government will enforce via untested age verification technology. The AV technology to be used on social media platforms in Australia is …

Britain sets first codes of practice for tech firms in online safety regime
3 months, 1 week ago

Britain sets first codes of practice for tech firms in online safety regime

The Hindu  

Britain's online safety regime came into force on Monday, requiring social media companies like Meta's Facebook and ByteDance's TikTok to take action to tackle criminal activity on their platforms and make them safer by design. Media regulator Ofcom said it had published its first codes of practice on tackling illegal harms such as child sexual abuse and assisting or encouraging …

Ofcom’s new online harms rules for social media firms disappoint campaigners
3 months, 1 week ago

Ofcom’s new online harms rules for social media firms disappoint campaigners

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The first set of new …

Australia will require social media platforms to act to prevent online harm to users
4 months, 1 week ago

Australia will require social media platforms to act to prevent online harm to users

NPR  

Australia will require social media platforms to act to prevent online harm to users toggle caption Rick Rycroft/AP MELBOURNE, Australia — Australia plans to require social media platforms to act to prevent online harms to users such as bullying, predatory behavior and algorithms pushing destructive content, the government said Thursday. "The Digital Duty of Care will place the onus on …

Social media 'duty of care' laws would force online giants to take preventative action on mental health harms
4 months, 2 weeks ago

Social media 'duty of care' laws would force online giants to take preventative action on mental health harms

ABC  

Social media companies would be required to take proactive steps to keep Australians safe online under a federal government plan to legislate a "Digital Duty of Care". Strong penalties for companies that fail to take preventative action The new duty would be in addition to the government's move to ban children and teens younger than 16 from using social media, …

Online grooming crimes reach record levels, NSPCC says
4 months, 3 weeks ago

Online grooming crimes reach record levels, NSPCC says

The Independent  

Sign up to our free weekly IndyTech newsletter delivered straight to your inbox Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Online grooming crimes have reached record levels in the UK, with more than …

New, strengthened Online Safety Act needed to protect children, charity says
5 months ago

New, strengthened Online Safety Act needed to protect children, charity says

The Independent  

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. “Almost seven years after Molly’s death, we urgently need ministers …

Online safety laws ‘pose substantial risks to our economy’
5 months, 1 week ago

Online safety laws ‘pose substantial risks to our economy’

The Telegraph  

Looming online safety laws pose “substantial risks” to the economy, ministers have been warned, amid fears the new red tape will smother small tech businesses. Sir David Davis, a former Cabinet minister, has called for a new review of forthcoming tech regulation, which is designed to protect children from harmful online content. In a letter to Peter Kyle, the secretary …

How social media will change under Ofcom rules
5 months, 1 week ago

How social media will change under Ofcom rules

The Independent  

Sign up to our free weekly IndyTech newsletter delivered straight to your inbox Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Ofcom has revealed when social media companies operating in the UK will need …

Ofcom vows to ‘come down hard’ on social media firms that fail to protect children online
5 months, 1 week ago

Ofcom vows to ‘come down hard’ on social media firms that fail to protect children online

The Telegraph  

Her comments came as Ofcom, the online regulator, set out the timetable for companies to comply with the new Online Safety Act. The regulator said that in December it will publish the “first edition” of its codes and guidance setting out how companies should protect users from illegal harms including child sex abuse, terrorism, assisting suicide, harassment, hate offences and …

Technology Secretary says firms must ‘bake’ safety at centre of new products
5 months, 1 week ago

Technology Secretary says firms must ‘bake’ safety at centre of new products

The Independent  

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Peter Kyle said Ofcom would be telling the US-based gaming …

Technology Secretary asks Ofcom for online safety response to summer riots
5 months, 1 week ago

Technology Secretary asks Ofcom for online safety response to summer riots

The Independent  

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The Technology Secretary …

Speed up laws to prevent children seeing harmful content online, Technology Secretary tells Ofcom
5 months, 1 week ago

Speed up laws to prevent children seeing harmful content online, Technology Secretary tells Ofcom

The Telegraph  

New laws to protect children from harmful online content such as suicide, self-harm and pornography must be introduced faster, the Technology Secretary has told Ofcom. In a letter to the head of the online regulator, Peter Kyle said it was “incredibly important” to introduce measures in the Online Safety Act “as soon as possible” amid concerns that they will not …

UK and US pledge to work more closely on child online safety
5 months, 2 weeks ago

UK and US pledge to work more closely on child online safety

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The UK and the United …

Children and young teenagers could be banned from using social media, minister says
6 months, 2 weeks ago

Children and young teenagers could be banned from using social media, minister says

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Children in the …

Government strengthens Online Safety Act to crack down on revenge porn
6 months, 2 weeks ago

Government strengthens Online Safety Act to crack down on revenge porn

The Independent  

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The sharing of revenge porn is to be classified as the …

Seven in 10 children exposed to harmful content online – research
6 months, 3 weeks ago

Seven in 10 children exposed to harmful content online – research

The Independent  

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Other harmful online experiences reported by children in this age group include coming across hate …

Ofcom hiring more online safety staff amid calls to tackle misinformation
7 months ago

Ofcom hiring more online safety staff amid calls to tackle misinformation

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Media regulator Ofcom is ramping …

Social media firms ‘failing to detect and remove’ suicide and self-harm content
7 months, 1 week ago

Social media firms ‘failing to detect and remove’ suicide and self-harm content

The Independent  

Sign up to our free weekly IndyTech newsletter delivered straight to your inbox Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Some of the biggest social media platforms are failing to detect and remove …

What is the Online Safety Act? Law explained as Khan says bill ‘not fit for purpose’
7 months, 2 weeks ago

What is the Online Safety Act? Law explained as Khan says bill ‘not fit for purpose’

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Passed in October 2023, the Online Safety Act is designed to make the internet …

Sadiq Khan says he does not feel safe as a Muslim following far-right riots
7 months, 2 weeks ago

Sadiq Khan says he does not feel safe as a Muslim following far-right riots

The Independent  

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Mr Khan has urged the government to revisit new social …

What to know about the Kids Online Safety Act that just passed the Senate
8 months ago

What to know about the Kids Online Safety Act that just passed the Senate

Associated Press  

The last time Congress passed a law to protect children on the internet was in 1998 — before Facebook, before the iPhone and long before today’s oldest teenagers were born. KOSA would create a “duty of care” — a legal term that requires companies to take reasonable steps to prevent harm — for online platforms minors will likely use. Even …

Online safety rules don’t go far enough, bereaved parents say
10 months, 2 weeks ago

Online safety rules don’t go far enough, bereaved parents say

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. The intervention from the parents of 11 children, whose …

Tech giants ‘could severely disable UK spooks from stopping online harms’
1 year, 1 month ago

Tech giants ‘could severely disable UK spooks from stopping online harms’

The Independent  

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Silicon Valley tech giants’ actions could “severely disable” UK spooks from …

Online safety law does not go far enough, says Brianna Ghey’s mother
1 year, 1 month ago

Online safety law does not go far enough, says Brianna Ghey’s mother

The Independent  

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. In a round of television and radio interviews on Thursday, Ms Ghey said the Online …

Brianna Ghey’s mother says child online safety laws should be ‘more drastic’
1 year, 1 month ago

Brianna Ghey’s mother says child online safety laws should be ‘more drastic’

The Independent  

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. I think that mobile phones have a lot to answer …

Majority of boys aged 11-14 ‘exposed to online content that promotes misogyny’
1 year, 1 month ago

Majority of boys aged 11-14 ‘exposed to online content that promotes misogyny’

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Every parent knows being online …

Father of Molly Russell slams long CAMHS waiting times as ‘tragedy’
1 year, 2 months ago

Father of Molly Russell slams long CAMHS waiting times as ‘tragedy’

The Independent  

Sign up for our free Health Check email to receive exclusive analysis on the week in health Get our free Health Check email Get our free Health Check email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The father of a 14-year-old girl who killed herself slammed long …

UK Government Considers Social Media Restrictions for Under-16s
1 year, 3 months ago

UK Government Considers Social Media Restrictions for Under-16s

Deccan Chronicle  

Hyderabad: The UK government, led by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, is contemplating potential restrictions on social media access for teenagers below the age of 16 in a bid to safeguard them from online harm. Despite the implementation of the Online Safety Act, mandating social media platforms to shield minors from harmful content or face fines up to 10% of global …

AI could 'trigger a damaging new wave' of the extreme online content that led to 14-year-old schoolgirl Molly Russell taking her own life, her heartbroken father says
1 year, 4 months ago

AI could 'trigger a damaging new wave' of the extreme online content that led to 14-year-old schoolgirl Molly Russell taking her own life, her heartbroken father says

Daily Mail  

The father of tragic schoolgirl Molly Russell yesterday warned that AI could 'trigger a damaging new wave' of the extreme online content that led to his daughter's death. Undated family handout file photo of 14-year-old Molly Russell who took her own life in November 2017 after she had been viewing material on social media linked to anxiety, depression, self-harm and …

Online Safety Bill becomes law in the UK: Divisive act receives Royal Assent - in move that could see WhatsApp banned in Britain
1 year, 5 months ago

Online Safety Bill becomes law in the UK: Divisive act receives Royal Assent - in move that could see WhatsApp banned in Britain

Daily Mail  

The UK government's controversial Online Safety Bill – designed to make the internet safer for children – has been passed into law. New legislation: The UK government's controversial Online Safety Bill – designed to make the internet safer for children – has been passed into law WHAT IS THE ONLINE SAFETY BILL? Despite WhatsApp's threat, Technology Secretary Michelle Donelan today …

UK’s new online safety law adds to crackdown on Big Tech companies
1 year, 6 months ago

UK’s new online safety law adds to crackdown on Big Tech companies

Associated Press  

LONDON — British lawmakers have approved an ambitious but controversial new internet safety law with wide-ranging powers to crack down on digital and social media companies like TikTok, Google, and Facebook and Instagram parent Meta. The new law requires social media platforms to take down illegal content, including child sexual abuse, hate speech and terrorism, revenge porn and posts promoting …

UK's new online safety law adds to crackdown on Big Tech companies
1 year, 6 months ago

UK's new online safety law adds to crackdown on Big Tech companies

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy British lawmakers have approved an …

Legislation to tame the online ‘Wild West’ clears Parliament
1 year, 6 months ago

Legislation to tame the online ‘Wild West’ clears Parliament

The Independent  

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Technology Secretary Michelle Donelan said the Online Safety Bill was a “game-changing” new law. “That’s …

Flagship law will make UK safest place in the world to be online, says minister
1 year, 6 months ago

Flagship law will make UK safest place in the world to be online, says minister

The Independent  

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Digital minister Lord Parkinson said: “The intention of this Bill …

Father of Molly Russell calls on Ofcom to ‘boldly’ enforce new online safety law
1 year, 6 months ago

Father of Molly Russell calls on Ofcom to ‘boldly’ enforce new online safety law

The Independent  

Sign up to our free weekly IndyTech newsletter delivered straight to your inbox Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Ian Russell said he believed the Bill, which has been years in the drafting and imposes new …

Ministers made no concessions on social media encryption concerns, says Donelan
1 year, 6 months ago

Ministers made no concessions on social media encryption concerns, says Donelan

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Technology Secretary Michelle Donelan has …

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