Tag

Online Safety Act

All articles tagged with #online safety act

technology10 days ago•3 min saved

UK targets non-consensual intimate images with a 48-hour takedown rule for platforms

Britain proposes amending the Crime and Policing Bill to force tech platforms to remove non-consensual intimate images within 48 hours, treating them with the same seriousness as CSAM and terrorist content. Noncompliant firms could face fines up to 10% of global sales or UK service blocks. Victims would flag an image once and platforms must prevent re-uploads; ISPs could be guided to block sites hosting illegal content. The move aims to protect women, girls and LGBT people and adds to stricter online safety measures following clashes with platforms and past AI misuse cases.

via BBC|

#48-hour-takedown #intimate-image-abuse #online-safety-act

technology27 days ago•6 min saved

Pornhub blocks UK access as age-verification rules take effect

Pornhub will restrict UK access for users who haven’t completed age verification under the Online Safety Act, arguing the law pushes users to non-compliant sites and raises safety concerns; critics see it as a potential tactic to press lawmakers or boost registrations, while VPNs continue to complicate enforcement and overall UK traffic trends remain uncertain.

via BBC|

#age-verification #online-safety-act #pornography-sites

technology1 month ago•12 min saved

Two Lives, One Mission: Ian Russell's fight for safer social media

Ian Russell explains how his daughter Molly's death exposed online-harm risks and spurred a long campaign for safer platforms, arguing against blanket bans on under-16s and urging proportionate, platform-specific safeguards under the Online Safety Act, with ongoing scrutiny of tech giants and regulatory enforcement.

via The Guardian|

#molly #ofcom #online-harms

policy1 month ago•3 min saved

UK weighs court-ordered ban on X under Online Safety Act amid AI image controversy

Britain’s Ofcom has opened a formal probe into X under the Online Safety Act over risks from illegal content and inadequate safeguards for users and children. If breaches are found, the regulator could seek court-ordered “business disruption measures” — effectively a de facto ban — though such action is described as a last resort. The government has signaled support for a ban, but Ofcom stresses it must follow due process, and penalties can include up to £18m or 10% of worldwide revenue. The investigation timeline is uncertain and could range from months to a potential expedited process depending on findings and remedial steps.

via The Guardian|

#ban #business-disruption-measures #ofcom

technology1 month ago•3 min saved

Ofcom Probes X Over Grok Deepfakes Under Online Safety Act

Britain's Ofcom has opened an investigation into Elon Musk's X to assess whether it complies with the Online Safety Act amid reports that Grok, its AI chatbot, is creating non-consensual and sexualized deepfakes of women and children.

via politico.eu|

#artificial-intelligence #deepfakes #online-safety-act

government-and-policy6 months ago•1 min saved

UK's Age Verification Laws Drive Non-Compliant Sites and Increase Unverified Visits

The UK’s enforcement of the Online Safety Act’s age verification rules is paradoxically reducing traffic on compliant adult sites while increasing it on non-compliant ones, highlighting unintended consequences of the law.

via TechCrunch|

#adult-content #age-check-law #government-and-policy

technology6 months ago•2 min saved

UK Gaming Giants Implement New Age Verification Measures

Valve has implemented an age verification system for UK Steam users to access mature content, requiring users to verify their age via credit card login in compliance with the UK Online Safety Act, which aims to enhance online safety and protect minors.

via GamesIndustry.biz|

#age-verification #online-safety-act #steam

technology6 months ago•2 min saved

UK's Age Verification Rules Cause Porn Site Traffic Drop

The enforcement of new UK online age verification rules has led to a significant drop in traffic to major adult websites like Pornhub and XVideos, with a 47% decrease in visitors, while some smaller sites see increased visits, and VPN downloads surge as users seek to bypass restrictions.

via BBC|

#age-verification #online-safety-act #pornography

technology7 months ago•3 min saved

Xbox to Implement Age Verification in the UK and Beyond by 2026

Xbox is implementing new age verification procedures for UK users following the Online Safety Act, encouraging identity verification to access age-appropriate content, with non-verifying users facing social play restrictions early next year. Multiple verification methods are available, but some users have found ways to bypass the system, raising concerns about its robustness.

via Windows Central|

#age-verification #online-safety-act #privacy

technology7 months ago•2 min saved

Xbox Implements Mandatory Age Verification in the UK Starting 2026

Microsoft is implementing age verification for Xbox users in the UK to comply with the Online Safety Act, partnering with Yoti for identity checks, which will become mandatory for full social feature access by early 2026; the process may expand to other regions in the future.

via The Verge|

#age-verification #microsoft #online-safety-act

technology7 months ago•2 min saved

UK's Online Safety Rules Boost VPN Use and Bypass Tools

VPN apps have surged to the top of the UK App Store charts following new age verification requirements for adult content sites, with many users potentially using VPNs to bypass these restrictions. Experts warn about privacy and security risks associated with free VPNs, especially among children, and highlight the increased usage of VPNs like Proton VPN as a response to the new regulations.

via BBC|

#age-verification #app-store #online-safety-act

technology7 months ago•3 min saved

UK Users Bypass Age Verification Using Death Stranding's Photo Mode

Young users are bypassing Britain's new online age verification system by using game features like Norman Reedus's face in Death Stranding's photo mode, highlighting the effectiveness and limitations of the UK's Online Safety Act. The article discusses how these measures are easily circumvented, raising concerns about privacy and the effectiveness of age restrictions online.

via Boing Boing|

#age-verification #britain #gaming

technology1 year ago•3 min saved

Roblox Enhances Parental Controls to Safeguard Young Gamers

Roblox is implementing new safety measures to protect children under 13 by blocking them from sending direct messages on the platform unless a parent or guardian grants permission. Parents will have enhanced control over their child's account, including managing friend lists and setting playtime limits. These changes, part of a broader effort to comply with the UK's Online Safety Act, will be fully implemented by March 2025. Roblox is also introducing content labels to help parents make informed decisions about the games their children play based on maturity rather than age.

via BBC.com|

#child-safety #online-gaming #online-safety-act

crime-and-law1 year ago•2 min saved

"UK Cyberflasher Receives Record Jail Sentence for Genital Photo"

Nicholas Hawkes, a 39-year-old man from Essex, England, has been sentenced to 66 weeks in prison for sending unsolicited explicit photos to a 15-year-old girl and an adult woman through WhatsApp, becoming the first person to be sentenced under the new cyberflashing law in England and Wales. The Online Safety Act criminalizes cyberflashing, and offenders can face up to two years in prison. Hawkes, who was already a convicted sex offender, received an additional 14 weeks for breaching a previous court order and was given a restraining order and a sexual harm prevention order. The law aims to combat online sexual harassment, and the Crown Prosecution Service encourages other victims to come forward, assuring them lifelong anonymity.

via The Washington Post|

#crime-and-law #cyberflashing #online-safety-act

crime-and-law1 year ago•2 min saved

"First 'Cyberflasher' Jailed Under New Law in England"

A 39-year-old man in the UK has been sentenced to over a year in prison for sending unsolicited genital images to a 15-year-old girl and a woman in her 60s, becoming the first person charged under the new Online Safety Act. The act, which took effect in January, includes provisions against unsolicited nudes. The man, already on probation for previous offenses, pleaded guilty to causing alarm, distress, or humiliation. The law has faced criticism for other provisions, but the ban on unsolicited nudes, especially to minors, has been widely supported. U.S. laws on cyberflashing vary, with Virginia and California passing recent legislation to address the issue.

via Gizmodo|

#crime-and-law #cyberflashing #online-safety-act