UK's new online safety law adds to crackdown on Big Tech companies
1 year, 3 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 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 self-harm. The government says the law takes a “zero tolerance” approach to protecting kids by making platforms legally responsible for their online safety. The U.K.-based Open Rights Group and the Electronic Frontier Foundation in the U.S. said that if tech companies have to ensure content is not harmful for children, they could end up being forced to choose between sanitizing their platforms or making users verify their ages by uploading official ID or using privacy-intrusive face scans to estimate how old they are.

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History of this topic

Online grooming crimes reach record levels, NSPCC says
2 months, 1 week 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
2 months, 2 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, 2 weeks 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 …

Technology Secretary says firms must ‘bake’ safety at centre of new products
2 months, 3 weeks 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, 3 weeks 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
2 months, 3 weeks 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
2 months, 4 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 …

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

Ofcom hiring more online safety staff amid calls to tackle misinformation
4 months, 2 weeks 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 …

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

What to know about the Kids Online Safety Act that just passed the Senate
5 months, 2 weeks 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
8 months 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’
10 months, 2 weeks 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 …

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

UK Government Considers Social Media Restrictions for Under-16s
1 year 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 …

How safe is the online space for children in India? | In Focus podcast
1 year, 1 month ago

How safe is the online space for children in India? | In Focus podcast

The Hindu  

The National Human Rights Commission released a set of guidelines last month for the Central and State governments to tackle the problem of Child Sexual Abuse Material or CSAM on the internet. The NHRC says, that according to the Cyber Tipline 2022 statistics, of the 32 million reports received about child sexual abuse material, 5.6 million reports were uploaded by …

UK focuses on child safety at the start of new online regime
1 year, 2 months ago

UK focuses on child safety at the start of new online regime

The Hindu  

Britain's communications regulator said tech companies must focus on protecting children from abuse, grooming and pro-suicide content, in its first steps as the enforcer of online safety. Ofcom, which gained new powers when the Online Safety Act came into law last month, said children were a key priority. Chief Executive Melanie Dawes said Ofcom was wasting no time in setting …

UK’s new online safety law adds to crackdown on Big Tech companies
1 year, 3 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 …

Legislation to tame the online ‘Wild West’ clears Parliament
1 year, 3 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, 3 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 …

Wikipedia could shut down in UK after online safety law passes, Government told
1 year, 6 months ago

Wikipedia could shut down in UK after online safety law passes, Government told

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 Liberal Democrat peer said: “There is a material risk that, without further amendment or …

Britain tightens planned tech law to stop children viewing adult content
1 year, 6 months ago

Britain tightens planned tech law to stop children viewing adult content

The Hindu  

Britain said on Friday it had tightened protections in its Online Safety Bill that will prevent children from viewing pornography in an update to long-delayed legislation that is being closely watched by the tech industry. Britain, like the European Union and other countries, has been grappling over how to protect social media users, and in particular children, from harmful content …

UK waters down online restrictions after free speech outcry
2 years, 1 month ago

UK waters down online restrictions after free speech outcry

The Hindu  

Britain will not force tech giants to remove content that is "legal but harmful" from their platforms after campaigners and lawmakers raised concerns that the move could curtail free speech, the government said on Monday. The government had previously said social media companies could be fined up to 10% of turnover or 18 million pounds if they failed to stamp …

Online Safety Bill to tackle ‘absurd situation’ of age limit verification
2 years, 1 month ago

Online Safety Bill to tackle ‘absurd situation’ of age limit verification

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 Changes to the Online Safety Bill will tackle the “absurd situation” …

Children being coerced into most severe forms of sexual abuse online – report
2 years, 1 month ago

Children being coerced into most severe forms of sexual abuse online – report

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. No matter how disturbing and upsetting these findings are we cannot shy away from the …

Rishi Sunak pledges UK will have new online safety laws by next spring
2 years, 1 month ago

Rishi Sunak pledges UK will have new online safety laws by next spring

The Telegraph  

Rishi Sunak has pledged to introduce new duty of care laws to protect children from online harms before next spring. Mr Russell revealed Ms Donelan had said she and the Prime Minister were “personally committed” to get the Online Safety Bill completed this parliamentary session, which is due to end next month. Legal but harmful content Mr Russell welcomed the …

Tory leadership hopeful says Online Safety Bill ‘in no fit state to become law’
2 years, 5 months ago

Tory leadership hopeful says Online Safety Bill ‘in no fit state to become law’

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. We should not be legislating for hurt feelings.” Culture Secretary …

EU poised to unveil rules forcing Big Tech to protect users
2 years, 8 months ago

EU poised to unveil rules forcing Big Tech to protect users

LA Times  

European Union officials want Google and other tech companies to step up efforts to curb the spread of illegal content, hate speech and disinformation. The European Union is nearing agreement on a set of new rules aimed at protecting internet users by forcing big tech companies such as Google and Facebook to step up their efforts to curb the spread …

Tech leaders face threat of prison under new UK online bill
2 years, 9 months ago

Tech leaders face threat of prison under new UK online bill

Associated Press  

LONDON — Tech bosses face criminal prosecution if they fail to comply with proposed British rules aimed at ensuring people are safe online, the U.K. government said Thursday as it unveiled the draft legislation in Parliament. The ambitious but controversial online safety bill would give regulators wide-ranging powers to crack down on digital and social media companies like Google, Facebook, …

Cyberflashing to be criminalised under new online safety bill
2 years, 9 months ago

Cyberflashing to be criminalised under new online safety bill

The Independent  

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Porn sites to be required to verify age of UK users under online safety law plans
2 years, 11 months ago

Porn sites to be required to verify age of UK users under online safety law plans

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. Marking Safer Internet Day, digital minister Chris Philp confirmed the draft Online Safety Bill is …

Report urges UK government to beef up online safety measure
3 years ago

Report urges UK government to beef up online safety measure

Associated Press  

LONDON — Proposed British rules aimed at cracking down on harmful online content should be beefed up with tougher measures like making it illegal to send unsolicited graphic images, requiring porn sites to ensure children can’t gain access and moving faster to hold tech executives criminally liable for failing to uphold the regulations, lawmakers said in a new report. The …

Facebook grilled by UK lawmakers making online safety rules
3 years, 2 months ago

Facebook grilled by UK lawmakers making online safety rules

Associated Press  

LONDON — British lawmakers grilled Facebook on Thursday over how it handles online safety as European countries move to rein in the power of social media companies. Facebook’s head of safety said the tech giant supports regulation and has no business interest in providing people with an “unsafe experience.” Representatives from Google, Twitter and TikTok also answered questions from a …

Facebook, Google, Twitter face grilling by UK lawmakers
3 years, 2 months ago

Facebook, Google, Twitter face grilling by UK lawmakers

India TV News  

British lawmakers are set to grill Facebook and other tech giants Thursday over how they handle online safety as European efforts to regulate social media companies gain momentum. Representatives from Facebook, Google, Twitter, and TikTok will be questioned by members of a parliamentary committee scrutinizing the British government’s draft online safety legislation. Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen appeared before the U.K. …

UK plans big fines for online companies over harmful content
4 years ago

UK plans big fines for online companies over harmful content

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 Social media and other internet …

More than a third of children find it easier to be themselves online, study suggests
4 years, 10 months ago

More than a third of children find it easier to be themselves online, study suggests

The Independent  

Sign up to our free Living Well email for advice on living a happier, healthier and longer life Live your life healthier and happier with our free weekly Living Well newsletter Live your life healthier and happier with our free weekly Living Well newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. …

Opinion | Creating safe spaces on World Wide Web
5 years ago

Opinion | Creating safe spaces on World Wide Web

Live Mint  

The first mobile phone call in India was made in 1995. Two and half decades later, India has more than 1.3 billion mobile connections, close to 600 million internet users, the cheapest rate of data globally, and the highest data usage per user in the world at 9.8 gigabyte per month. Discouraging fake news circulation on WhatsApp groups, supporting adoption …

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