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Online Safety Act

All articles tagged with #online safety act

policy22 hours ago

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
technology5 months ago

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
technology5 months ago

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
technology5 months ago

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

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

"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

"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
crime1 year ago

"England's First 'Cyberflasher' Convicted and Jailed for 5+ Years"

Nicholas Hawkes, a convicted sex offender, became the first person in England and Wales to be convicted under the Online Safety Act for cyberflashing, receiving a 5 1/2-year prison sentence for sending unsolicited genital photos to a woman and a 15-year-old girl. The new law makes it an offense to send unsolicited sexual images via social media or technologies. Hawkes, who was on the sex offenders register, admitted to breaching previous orders and pleaded guilty to the new offense, while his defense lawyer cited post-traumatic stress as a factor.

via The Associated Press|
#crime#cyberflashing#england
crime-and-justice1 year ago

"England's First Cyberflashing Conviction Results in Over 5 Years in Prison"

Nicholas Hawkes, a convicted sex offender, has been sentenced to 5 1/2 years in prison for sending unsolicited photos of his genitals, becoming the first person in England and Wales to be convicted under the Online Safety Act. The law, which came into effect on Jan. 31, makes it an offense to send unsolicited sexual images via social media, dating apps, or technologies such as Bluetooth or AirDrop. Hawkes had previously been on the sex offenders registry and pleaded guilty to breaching a community order and suspended sentence for an earlier offense.

via Newser|
#crime-and-justice#cyberflashing#england
crime1 year ago

BBC Tracks Down Poison Seller Linked to Suicide Forum

A Ukrainian man, Leonid Zakutenko, has been identified by the BBC as a seller of a deadly chemical linked to at least 130 UK deaths, which he advertised on a suicide forum. Despite denying the claims, an investigation found that he has been supplying the substance for years. The chemical, which can prove fatal even in small doses, has been linked to numerous deaths, prompting calls for firmer action against both the sellers and the online forum. The government cites the new Online Safety Act as a potential tool to restrict access to such forums.

via BBC.com|
#bbc-investigation#chemical-deaths#crime