Britain Makes Tech Giants Pay for Their Own Regulation
With new fees for major platforms, Britain’s media regulator Ofcom is pressing ahead with the Online Safety Act, fuelling a conten…
Social Media Regulation Wave Sweeps Across the US
Massachusetts plans to ban social media entirely for children under 14, in what would be one of the toughest youth protection laws…
Australia Seeks International Backing for Youth Social Media Ban
Australia’s nationwide social media ban for under-16s was meant to protect young people. Months later, it is becoming a cautionary…
Mexico's mandatory biometric ID requirement threatens freedom
Mexico is rolling out a biometric identity system reaching deep into citizens’ private lives – promising security and efficiency, …
The landmark ruling against Meta and Google – and what follows
Tech companies can be held liable for the design of their products if they cause harm. For the first time, a court has ordered Met…
Russia moves to cut off foreign websites
The internet in Russia is being reshaped into a government-controlled network. The country thus joins the ranks of authoritarian s…
Why Age Verification Databases Pose Greater Risks Than Governments Realize
Age verification databases carry serious risks, from far-reaching state surveillance to the exposure of citizens’ personal data to…
The Linux community clashes with new state rules
Politicians with little understanding of technology are putting free software at risk and unsettling open-source communities with …
The Age of Age Checks – Governments Tighten Control of Social Media
Concerns about cyberbullying, sexual abuse and harmful online content are pushing governments towards stricter regulation. New age…
Child protection turns into digital ID checks in Florida
US states are following a global trend of restricting children’s access to social media. Yet the understandable aim of protecting …
New UK internet laws raise fears of digital ID by the backdoor
Britain is pushing ahead with new internet rules that could require users to prove their identity online. Privacy advocates warn …
The rise of de-Googling smartphones
Alongside Meta and Apple, Google is one of the world’s largest collectors of personal data. Most smartphones run Android, tying us…
UK government tracks millions of phones to identify electric-car drivers
Britain’s Department for Transport secretly monitored smartphone movements with the help of network operators to identify potentia…
Mexico turns the smartphone into a glass telephone booth
Identifying and locating anyone who makes a phone call has long been the dream of every totalitarian system. Mexico is now moving …
TikTok tightens age verification controls. It will focus on children younger than 13 years of age
The operator of short video apps will begin rolling out a new algorithm in Europe in the coming weeks to verify the age of users. …