A real privacy law? House lawmakers are optimistic this time
Comprehensive data privacy legislation, including the Kids Online Safety Act, is advancing in Congress with a renewed push and bipartisan support. [ more ]
How You Can Make Social Media Safer for Kids and Teens
Parents need to actively make social media safer for kids by being aware of the risks and monitoring their online activities.
Children are exposed to a wide range of inappropriate content on the internet, making it crucial for parents to take action in protecting them. [ more ]
Online safety law does not go far enough, says Brianna Ghey's mother
Esther Ghey, the mother of murdered teenager Brianna Ghey, believes that the Online Safety Act does not go far enough in protecting children from harmful content online.
Ghey believes that smartphone companies should take more responsibility for safeguarding children and that there may need to be additional laws to ensure enforcement of online safety measures. [ more ]
Brianna Ghey's mother says child online safety laws should be more drastic'
Esther Ghey, mother of murdered teenager Brianna Ghey, believes that the Online Safety Act does not adequately protect children online and is calling for stronger measures.
She is advocating for under-16s to be blocked from accessing social media on smartphones and for stronger parental controls to flag potentially harmful searches to parents. [ more ]
It went nuts': Thousands join UK parents calling for smartphone-free childhood
Parents are joining a group advocating for delaying smartphones for children, aiming for no smartphone until 14 and no social media until 16.
The grassroots movement unexpectedly grew into a nationwide campaign, with over 4,000 members advocating for child safety and mental health online. [ more ]
UK parents worried about screens, but children say they now feel safer online
UK parents worry about screen time's impact on their children's health and sleep, while children feel more confident and safer online. The report highlights concerns about children being messaged by strangers online, especially girls. Parents are spending more time on their devices, leading to less family time. [ more ]
The European Union expands digital crackdown on toxic content, dodgy goods to all online platforms
EU's Digital Services Act expands to almost all online platforms in the bloc, imposing strict rules for user safety.
The DSA requires transparency in online ads, bans targeting based on sensitive data, and mandates explanation for content moderation decisions. [ more ]
Ofcom report finds 1 in 5 harmful content search results were 'one-click gateways' to more toxicity | TechCrunch
The U.K. regulator, Ofcom, is investigating the role of search engines like Google and Bing in presenting harmful content, particularly to underage users.
One out of every five search results around self-injury terms leads to further harmful content, according to a report commissioned by Ofcom. [ more ]
Universal Music Group Is Taking Your Favorite Songs Off TikTok
Universal Music Group (UMG) has removed its music from TikTok due to failed negotiations on compensation, AI protections, and online safety.
UMG accused TikTok of offering lower rates compared to other social platforms and promoting AI replacement of artists. They also expressed concerns about inconsistent content moderation on the platform. [ more ]
Universal Music Group threatens to pull music from TikTok
Universal Music Group is threatening to remove its songs from TikTok if a new licensing deal is not reached by their current contract's expiration.
The sticking points in the negotiation are appropriate compensation for artists and songwriters, protecting artists from harmful effects of AI, and online safety. [ more ]
TikTok Facing Huge Crisis as It Loses Taylor Swift, BTS, Drake Over Its AI Features
TikTok is losing access to a significant amount of popular music as Universal Music Group pressures the platform for better rules on AI, safety, and artist compensation.
The label accuses TikTok of not only allowing but encouraging AI-generated infringements of its artists' work, and demanding a contractual right that dilutes the royalty pool for human artists. [ more ]
Universal Music accuses TikTok of 'intimidation' using AI
Universal Music Group accuses TikTok of abusing its market power and promoting AI-generated music.
Universal Music Group claims that negotiations with TikTok have failed due to issues of appropriate compensation, protecting human artists from AI, and online safety. [ more ]
Meta tool to block nude images in teens' private messages
Meta plans to launch a safety tool to block and discourage children from sending and receiving nude images on Instagram and Facebook.
The tool is a response to criticism over Meta's decision to encrypt Messenger chats, which law enforcement agencies say hinders their ability to detect child abuse. [ more ]
Fundamentally against their safety': the social media insiders fearing for their kids
Arturo Bejar, former Facebook employee, testified in Congress about the harm social media platforms are inflicting on children and teens.
Bejar discovered that his own 14-year-old daughter and her friends were subjected to unwanted sexual advances, harassment, and misogyny on Instagram. [ more ]
Meta Overhauls Youth Safety Settings to Improve Your Teen's Wellbeing
Meta has announced an overhaul of its privacy and safety tools to provide teens with a more age-appropriate and safer experience on its platforms.
The updates will remove content related to self-harm and eating disorders from teens' feeds, assign strict content control settings, and prompt regular privacy setting checks.
Meta's changes are based on recommendations from experts in adolescent development and psychology, aiming to prevent teens from coming across harmful content. [ more ]
New Mexico attorney general's office has filed a lawsuit against Meta for failing to protect younger users on Facebook and Instagram.
The lawsuit alleges that Meta allowed its platforms to become a marketplace for predators and failed to prevent children under 13 from accessing its services. [ more ]
Pornography viewers could be forced to scan their faces before watching videos
UK online safety regulator Ofcom has published guidance on enforcing the Online Safety Act, which requires adult websites to verify the age of viewers.
Methods recommended include facial scanning, open banking, photo ID matching, mobile network age checks, credit card checks, and digital identity wallets. [ more ]
In a world inundated with digital communication channels, it's crucial to be vigilant and discerning about the information and opportunities that come our way. [ more ]
Canada Water: Man meeting child for sex convicted after police ambushed him outside station
A man has been convicted after being intercepted by Met officers on his way to meet a 13-year-old girl for sex in London.
The man, Muhammed Zeeshan Ali, had been communicating with the girl on social media and had planned to meet her outside Canada Water Underground Station. [ more ]
TikTok user secretly films scantily clad women during nights out in UK: 'So creepy'
A mysterious TikTok user has been secretly filming young women on their nights out in the UK and uploading the footage to his account.
The account primarily features close-up shots of women, with men only appearing in the videos when they are with an attractive woman wearing revealing clothing. [ more ]
Ofcom draft guidance suggests scanning the faces of porn users to verify their age and implement extra checks for young-looking adults.
Privacy campaigners have raised concerns about the potential risks and consequences of collecting sensitive personal information for age verification. [ more ]
The Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) aims to protect minors from online harm and promote privacy and safety settings for users under 18.
KOSA has garnered support from senators, children's groups, medical associations, and Snap, but faces opposition from civil rights groups over concerns of free speech censorship. [ more ]
Why Entrepreneurs Are Doubling Down on Private Online Communities | Entrepreneur
Paid subscriptions to exclusive online communities offer a safe and curated space for authentic learning and connection.
Private online communities provide a viable solution to the rampant online safety issues and offer a more controlled and positive environment for users. [ more ]
PinkNews | Latest lesbian, gay, bi and trans news | LGBTQ+ news
LGBTQ+ groups are stopping conversion therapy content online
Social media platforms are updating their policies to ban conversion therapy-related content, protecting LGBTQ+ users online.
Platforms like Discord, TikTok, Pinterest, and NextDoor have implemented guidelines to prevent misgendering, deadnaming, and support for conversion therapy.
YouTube and X (formerly Twitter) still do not have comprehensive policies addressing this issue. [ more ]