Speed up laws to prevent children seeing harmful content online, Technology Secretary tells Ofcom
2 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 be fully implemented until 2026. It means it will have taken more than eight years since The Telegraph launched its duty of care campaign to make tech companies legally liable for protecting children from online harms. Ministers are under pressure to introduce new laws – such as measures to tackle “addictive” features on social platforms, but they believe they need to see the impact of the Online Safety Act and whether there are gaps before bringing in new legislation.

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History of this topic

Parents urged to be vigilant about children’s online safety over Christmas
2 weeks, 4 days ago

Parents urged to be vigilant about children’s online safety over Christmas

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 Parents have been urged to remain vigilant about their children’s online safety over …

Australia imposes world's-first ban on social media for children below 16 years
Top News
3 weeks, 3 days ago

Australia imposes world's-first ban on social media for children below 16 years

India Today  

In a landmark decision, Australia has passed a law that effectively bans social media usage for children under the age of 16, making it the first country to implement such sweeping regulations. The new law, which was passed in Parliament earlier this week, requires social media platforms to enforce stricter age verification measures, ensuring that children below 16 are unable …

Australia PM on social media ban: Firms now have responsibility to protect kids
3 weeks, 3 days ago

Australia PM on social media ban: Firms now have responsibility to protect kids

India Today  

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Friday that social media platforms now have a responsibility to ensure the safety of children, after the country's parliament passed a bill banning those under the age of 16 from using the services. Australia approved the social media ban for children on Thursday after an emotive debate that has gripped the nation, setting …

Tech companies put on notice as Australia passes world-first social media ban for under-16s
3 weeks, 4 days ago

Tech companies put on notice as Australia passes world-first social media ban for under-16s

CNN  

Brisbane, Australia CNN — Australia’s parliament has passed a world-first law banning social media for children under 16, putting tech companies on notice to tighten security before a cut-off date that’s yet to be set. Under the new law, tech companies must take “reasonable steps” to prevent under-age users from accessing social media services or face fines of nearly 50 …

Tech companies put on notice as Australia passes world-first social media ban for under-16s
3 weeks, 4 days ago

Tech companies put on notice as Australia passes world-first social media ban for under-16s

CNN  

Brisbane, Australia CNN — Australia’s parliament has passed a world-first law banning social media for children under 16, putting tech companies on notice to tighten security before a cut-off date that’s yet to be set. Under the new law, tech companies must take “reasonable steps” to prevent under-age users from accessing social media services or face fines of nearly 50 …

Australia Moves Step Closer To Banning Young Children From Social Media
3 weeks, 5 days ago

Australia Moves Step Closer To Banning Young Children From Social Media

Huff Post  

LOADING ERROR LOADING MELBOURNE, Australia — Australia’s House of Representatives on Wednesday passed a bill that would ban children younger than 16 years old from social media, leaving it to the Senate to finalize the world-first law. Critics also argue the ban would isolate children, deprive them of positive aspects of social media, drive children to the dark web, make …

‘Even if law helps in just smallest of ways…’: Australia passes bill to ban young children from social media
Trending News
3 weeks, 5 days ago

‘Even if law helps in just smallest of ways…’: Australia passes bill to ban young children from social media

Live Mint  

Australia's House of Representatives on Wednesday passed a bill that would ban children younger than 16 years old from social media, leaving it to the Senate to finalise the world-first law. Critics also argue the ban would isolate children, deprive them of positive aspects of social media, drive children to the dark web, make children too young for social media …

Australia’s House of Representatives passes bill that would ban young children from social media
3 weeks, 5 days ago

Australia’s House of Representatives passes bill that would ban young children from social media

The Hindu  

Australia’s House of Representatives on Wednesday passed a bill that would ban children younger than 16 years old from social media, leaving it to the Senate to finalize the world-first law. The major parties backed the bill that would make platforms including TikTok, Facebook, Snapchat, Reddit, X and Instagram liable for fines of up to 50 million Australian dollars for …

Australian House of Representatives passes bill to ban social media for children
3 weeks, 5 days ago

Australian House of Representatives passes bill to ban social media for children

India Today  

Australia’s House of Representatives on Wednesday passed a bill that would ban children younger than 16 years old from social media, leaving it to the Senate to finalise the world-first law. Critics also argue the ban would isolate children, deprive them of positive aspects of social media, drive children to the dark web, make children too young for social media …

Australia’s social media ban for kids is closer to becoming law
Top News
3 weeks, 5 days ago

Australia’s social media ban for kids is closer to becoming law

Associated Press  

MELBOURNE, Australia — Australia’s House of Representatives on Wednesday passed a bill that would ban children younger than 16 years old from social media, leaving it to the Senate to finalize the world-first law. Critics also argue the ban would isolate children, deprive them of positive aspects of social media, drive children to the dark web, make children too young …

Australia should delay social media ban for children under 16, Big Tech says
4 weeks ago

Australia should delay social media ban for children under 16, Big Tech says

Associated Press  

MELBOURNE, Australia — An advocate for major social media platforms told an Australian Senate committee Monday that laws to ban children younger than 16 from the sites should be delayed until next year at least instead of being rushed through the Parliament this week. Communications Minister Michelle Rowland said she looked forward to reading the Senate committee’s assessment of the …

A social media ban for children younger than 16 is introduced in Australia’s Parliament
1 month ago

A social media ban for children younger than 16 is introduced in Australia’s Parliament

The Hindu  

Australia’s communications minister introduced a world-first law into Parliament on Thursday that would ban children younger than 16 from social media, saying online safety was one of parents’ toughest challenges. Michelle Rowland said TikTok, Facebook, Snapchat, Reddit, X and Instagram were among the platforms that would face fines of up to 50 million Australian dollars for systemic failures to prevent …

Is a “digital duty of care” enough to protect young people from social media’s harms?
1 month ago

Is a “digital duty of care” enough to protect young people from social media’s harms?

ABC  

Since the start of November, the Australian government has made two significant announcements aimed at addressing the harms that social media platforms are causing to the mental health of adolescents: that it will legislate a minimum age of 16 for access to social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and X; that it will legislate a minimum age of 16 …

Australia introduces bill to limit under-16s from using social media with tech companies facing huge fines
1 month ago

Australia introduces bill to limit under-16s from using social media with tech companies facing huge fines

CNN  

Brisbane, Australia CNN — The Australian government is threatening multimillion dollar fines for social media companies that breach a proposed ban on children under 16 from using their service. Communications Minister Michelle Rowland introduced an amendment to the Online Safety Act in parliament on Thursday, which the government has pitched as “world-leading social media reform.” “The Albanese Government is introducing …

Opinions divided over Australia's social media ban move
Trending News
1 month ago

Opinions divided over Australia's social media ban move

China Daily  

The impact of social media on the well-being and mental health of children has been thoroughly documented for more than a decade. The Australian government is pushing ahead with legislation that will ban all children under the age of 16 from social media platforms such as Facebook, TikTok, Instagram and X — even with parental consent. "This may mean that …

Opinions divided over Australia's social media ban move
1 month ago

Opinions divided over Australia's social media ban move

China Daily  

FILE PHOTO: A TikTok logo is displayed on a smartphone in this illustration taken January 6, 2020. The Australian government is pushing ahead with legislation that will ban all children under the age of 16 from social media platforms such as Facebook, TikTok, Instagram and X — even with parental consent. "This may mean that they access social media without …

Opinions divided over Australia's social media ban move
1 month ago

Opinions divided over Australia's social media ban move

China Daily  

FILE PHOTO: A TikTok logo is displayed on a smartphone in this illustration taken January 6, 2020. The Australian government is pushing ahead with legislation that will ban all children under the age of 16 from social media platforms such as Facebook, TikTok, Instagram and X — even with parental consent. "This may mean that they access social media without …

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

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

Associated Press  

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 digital platforms to proactively keep Australians safe and better prevent online harms,” Communications Minister Michelle Rowland said in …

Australia to Make Big Tech Liable for Citizens Online Safety
1 month, 1 week ago

Australia to Make Big Tech Liable for Citizens Online Safety

Deccan Chronicle  

The Australian government plans to enact laws requiring big tech firms to protect its citizens online, the latest move by the center-left Labor administration to crack down on social media including through age limits and curbs on misinformation. It would “keep users safe and help prevent online harms.” The Australian government has moved in recent years to crack down on …

Australia to Make Big Tech Liable for Citizens’ Online Safety
1 month, 1 week ago

Australia to Make Big Tech Liable for Citizens’ Online Safety

Live Mint  

-- The Australian government plans to enact laws requiring big tech firms to protect its citizens online, the latest move by the center-left Labor administration to crack down on social media including through age limits and curbs on misinformation. It would “keep users safe and help prevent online harms.” The Australian government has moved in recent years to crack down …

Australia will require social media platforms to act to prevent online harm to users
1 month, 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
1 month, 1 week 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, …

'Doing harm to our kids': Australia proposes ban on social media for those below 16 years
Top News
1 month, 2 weeks ago

'Doing harm to our kids': Australia proposes ban on social media for those below 16 years

Firstpost  

Australia Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced on Thursday that his government would legislate for a ban on social media for children under 16. The platforms to be impacted would include Meta’s Instagram and Facebook, Elon Musk’s X and TikTok Australia speeding up to introduce laws to ban children under the age of 16 from accessing social media. Children in Australia …

Online grooming crimes reach record levels, NSPCC says
1 month, 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
1 month, 4 weeks 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’
2 months 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
2 months 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
2 months 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
2 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
2 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 …

Platforms, not parents, to be responsible for social media age limit, but penalties as yet undecided
2 months, 1 week ago

Platforms, not parents, to be responsible for social media age limit, but penalties as yet undecided

ABC  

Social media platforms will bear the onus of enforcing the federal government's age limit, not parents, the communications minister has confirmed. Michelle Rowland told the ABC's News Breakfast on Friday the government's age limit "trial," a fact-finding mission to understand the capabilities of platforms in this space, has shown that they "have the capacity to do more and they should …

Government strengthens Online Safety Act to crack down on revenge porn
3 months, 1 week 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 …

Online gaming sites would need to prove they are 'a force for good' to be exempt from SA's social media ban
3 months, 1 week ago

Online gaming sites would need to prove they are 'a force for good' to be exempt from SA's social media ban

ABC  

After struggling to form new friendships in high school during the pandemic, Lee Ann Phie found a supportive community through online video gaming. What we know about the promise to ban children from social media Photo shows Picture of a smartphone screen with apps including facebook, instagram and youtube A social media ban that could capture the most popular video …

Ofcom hiring more online safety staff amid calls to tackle misinformation
4 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
4 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 …

Senate passes bill to protect kids online and make tech companies accountable for harmful content
4 months, 3 weeks ago

Senate passes bill to protect kids online and make tech companies accountable for harmful content

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — The Senate overwhelmingly passed legislation Tuesday that is designed to protect children from dangerous online content, pushing forward with what would be the first major effort by Congress in decades to hold tech companies more accountable for the harm that they cause. “It is past time to act.” The legislation is about allowing children, teens and parents “to …

US Senate passes bill to protect children from dangerous online content
4 months, 3 weeks ago

US Senate passes bill to protect children from dangerous online content

Al Jazeera  

The Bill was pushed by parents of children who died by suicide after online bullying or were harmed by online content. The United States Senate has overwhelmingly passed legislation designed to protect children from dangerous online content, pushing forward with what would be the first major effort by Congress in decades to hold tech companies more accountable for the harm …

Senate to consider bills that aim to protect children and teenagers online
5 months ago

Senate to consider bills that aim to protect children and teenagers online

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — The Senate will consider legislation this week that aims to protect children from dangerous online content, moving forward with what could become the first sweeping new regulation of the tech industry in decades. On this issue, we desperately need to catch up.” The online safety bill, which the Senate will consider along with a separate bill to update …

What to know about the Kids Online Safety Act that just passed the Senate
5 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 …

Campaign to protect children online
5 months, 1 week ago

Campaign to protect children online

China Daily  

Campaign to protect children online China's top internet regulator has launched a two-month campaign to protect children online during the summer vacation, targeting e-commerce predators and inappropriate content. The crackdown follows a controversy last year that occurred when China Central Television exposed e-commerce platforms selling nude scale model toys to children age 7 to 14. A report on juvenile internet …

A law to protect kids online? It might just happen now.
6 months ago

A law to protect kids online? It might just happen now.

Raw Story  

WASHINGTON — Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer seems to have overcome a major roadblock in his own party who’s holding up legislation designed to protect children from online harm. “The majority leader and I have exchanged new text that looks like an improvement to me,” Sen. Ron Wyden exclusively told Raw Story at the U.S. Capitol. While the new KOSA …

New York moves to limit ‘addictive’ social media feeds for kids
6 months ago

New York moves to limit ‘addictive’ social media feeds for kids

Associated Press  

Kathy Hochul on Thursday signed a bill that would allow parents to block their children from getting social media posts suggested by a platform’s algorithm, a move to limit feeds critics argue are addictive. “New York has created a way for the government to track what sites people visit and their online activity by forcing websites to censor all content …

Meta, Google leading $1m lobbying efforts to oppose NY online safety for children bills
7 months ago

Meta, Google leading $1m lobbying efforts to oppose NY online safety for children bills

Op India  

Tech behemoths like Meta and Google have spent about $1.5 million combating strategies in the United States aimed at protecting children online. The SAFE Act would prohibit social media platforms from using recommendation algorithms on children, requiring chronological feeds for persons aged 18 and less unless a parental agreement is obtained. A Meta spokeswoman stated that the tech giant would …

Children will learn facts of life from disturbing online porn: Experts slam banning sex education for under-nines as 'incredibly damaging' - and warn youngsters could develop an 'unhealthy relationshi
7 months, 1 week ago

Children will learn facts of life from disturbing online porn: Experts slam banning sex education for under-nines as 'incredibly damaging' - and warn youngsters could develop an 'unhealthy relationshi

Daily Mail  

Banning sex education for children under nine could be 'incredibly damaging', experts have warned — as youngsters may end up learning the facts of life from disturbing online pornography. Dr Amanda Gummer says withdrawing sex education for under-9s will push children to get their sex education from disturbing online porn instead Education Secretary Gillian Keegan is set to announce a …

Online safety rules don’t go far enough, bereaved parents say
7 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 …

Online regulator Ofcom publishes new rules for social media firms to limit harm for children
7 months, 2 weeks ago

Online regulator Ofcom publishes new rules for social media firms to limit harm for children

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 Social media firms must stop pushing harmful content to children online with “aggressive” …

Editorial: Social media companies refuse to safeguard kids. It’s up to lawmakers now
8 months ago

Editorial: Social media companies refuse to safeguard kids. It’s up to lawmakers now

LA Times  

From state capitols to Washington, D.C., lawmakers are scrambling to come up with regulations that can protect kids from the potential harms of social media, since the platforms have been unwilling to adopt reasonable safeguards themselves. In just the last few months, Florida passed a law banning children under age 14 from having a social media account, Iowa legislators backed …

Younger children increasingly online and unsupervised, Ofcom says
8 months ago

Younger children increasingly online and unsupervised, Ofcom 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. In its annual study of children’s relationship with the …

Quarter of children under seven own smartphones
8 months ago

Quarter of children under seven own smartphones

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. In its annual study of children’s relationship with the media and online worlds, Ofcom said the number …

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