Tag

Online Safety

All articles tagged with #online safety

Discord delays age checks and tests non-face verification options
technology1 day ago

Discord delays age checks and tests non-face verification options

Discord has pushed back its global age-verification rollout to the latter half of the year after user backlash, saying only a minority will need to verify their age and that non-face options like credit-card verification will be explored; the company will publish its age-determination methodology, insists it won’t read messages or store verification images, and aims to align with upcoming youth-access rules while addressing widespread trust concerns.

UK to fast-track online access controls to protect minors
technology10 days ago

UK to fast-track online access controls to protect minors

Prime Minister Keir Starmer seeks broader powers to regulate internet access to shield children from online risks, including an Australian-style ban for under-16s and faster action via amendments to crime and child-protection laws; the package also expands prohibitions on creating sexualised images with AI, and may include VPN age checks, raising privacy and free-speech concerns amid rapid tech change.

Starmer targets doomscrolling and auto-play in new online-safety push
technology10 days ago

Starmer targets doomscrolling and auto-play in new online-safety push

Prime Minister Keir Starmer unveiled a new online-safety plan to curb addictive social-media features, close legal loopholes protecting children, and consider restricting under-16s from certain platforms. The package aims to speed up law changes, strengthen protections in chatbots, and preserve children's data under the Jools’ Law while targeting auto-play and endless scrolling, with discussions on VPN restrictions for adult content. A public consultation begins in March, eliciting mixed reactions from supporters and critics alike.

Guarding Against Scams in Google's AI Overviews
technology10 days ago

Guarding Against Scams in Google's AI Overviews

Google’s AI Overviews synthesize web results, but fake phone numbers planted by scammers have slipped into some summaries, sending users to impersonators who may harvest payment data. While Google says it’s strengthening anti-scam protections, the piece advises always verifying contact numbers on a company’s official site or with a separate search, since AI Overviews can still present outdated or misleading information.

Discord to roll out global age checks, defaulting users to teen mode
technology16 days ago

Discord to roll out global age checks, defaulting users to teen mode

Discord will globally require age verification next month, automatically placing accounts in a teen-appropriate mode unless users prove they are adults. Unverified users will be restricted from age-restricted servers and Stage channels, face content filters, and have DMs from unfamiliar users redirected. Verification options include on-device facial age estimation or submitting a government ID to a third-party vendor, with IDs deleted after verification and no biometric scanning. An age-inference model may allow some users to skip other checks if it’s highly confident they’re adults. The move follows global safety regulations and prior regional checks, with the company citing privacy safeguards and a vendor change after a data breach.

EU presses TikTok to curb ‘addictive design’ or face multi-billion fines
technology18 days ago

EU presses TikTok to curb ‘addictive design’ or face multi-billion fines

The European Commission has told TikTok to change features it deems contribute to addictive usage and could fine the platform up to 6% of its global turnover (potentially tens of billions) if it fails to comply. The regulator criticized how TikTok assessed risks to wellbeing, especially for children, and suggested remedies such as screen-time breaks, algorithm changes, and disabling infinite scroll. TikTok disputes the findings and will respond, as regulators press for “responsible design” across platforms.

Global cloud-storage scam hits inboxes with fake renewal alerts to steal payment details
cybersecurity24 days ago

Global cloud-storage scam hits inboxes with fake renewal alerts to steal payment details

A worldwide phishing campaign floods recipients with urgent emails claiming cloud-storage renewals failed, pushing them to a fake Google Cloud Storage link that redirects to scam pages impersonating cloud portals. The pages upsell a deceptive “loyalty” upgrade and collect credit card info, with the aim of affiliate revenue. Legitimate providers do not notify via such scans or require third-party security products, and users should delete the messages and verify billing directly on official sites.

Grok Nudification Sparks Fresh Question Over X’s Moderation
technology1 month ago

Grok Nudification Sparks Fresh Question Over X’s Moderation

X continues to allow Grok-generated sexualised videos, despite claims of crackdown, after The Guardian showed Grok Imagine can turn clothed women into bikini-clad or nude clips with little moderation on X; authorities, including UK Ofcom and lawmakers, are pressing for robust compliance, while Canada, the Philippines and Malaysia investigate or act against Grok and xAI, and the UK government considers a new nudification offense to curb such tools.

Big three consoles renew pledge for safer online gaming
technology1 month ago

Big three consoles renew pledge for safer online gaming

Nintendo, Sony, and Microsoft have updated their joint commitment to safer online gaming, expanding the 2020 principles with new safety technology, clearer player and parental controls, stronger collaboration with regulators and industry groups, and ongoing research to inform policy while maintaining transparent reporting and enforcement.

US cautions UK as X deepfake probe fuels potential ban
politics1 month ago

US cautions UK as X deepfake probe fuels potential ban

The US State Department says nothing is off the table if the UK bans Elon Musk’s X over concerns about AI-generated deepfakes, as Ofcom probes X’s compliance with the Online Safety Act and its Grok tool. UK officials stress action against harmful imagery and have backing to use penalties or blocking powers, highlighting a tense clash over free speech and platform responsibility between Washington and London.

technology1 month ago

Parental Controls Are Not Just for Parents

The article discusses the limitations and challenges of parental controls, emphasizing that they are not a substitute for active parenting, moral guidance, and understanding of a child's behavior and environment. It highlights the importance of age-appropriate supervision, open communication, and societal responsibility in protecting children online, while criticizing overly complex or commercialized control systems that often fail to address the real issues.