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Online Safety Act Stories

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Online Safety Act stories

UK regulators expand generative AI use in oversight
Data Protection

UK regulators expand generative AI use in oversight

The four UK regulators are moving generative AI into routine oversight, despite concerns over errors, bias and consumer harm.

By Joseph Gabriel Lagonsin • 5 min read • Mon, 29th Jun 2026
BSI urges existing age standard for social media ban
Data Protection

BSI urges existing age standard for social media ban

Adopting an existing age assurance standard could let ministers enforce under-16 social media limits without forcing children to hand over extra data.

By Sean Mitchell • 5 min read • Wed, 24th Jun 2026
UK VPN searches jump after under-16 social media plan
Data Protection

UK VPN searches jump after under-16 social media plan

Search interest surged as ministers' under-16 social media plan prompted privacy fears, with UK VPN queries hitting their highest since early August.

By Sean Mitchell • 4 min read • Fri, 19th Jun 2026
BSI launches first global standard for online age checks
Data Protection

BSI launches first global standard for online age checks

BSI unveils the first global standard for online age checks, aiming to harmonise safety rules as countries consider tougher social media curbs.

By Mark Tarre • 5 min read • Wed, 4th Feb 2026
Ofcom probes X over Grok deepfake sexual imagery risk
Data Protection

Ofcom probes X over Grok deepfake sexual imagery risk

Ofcom has opened a probe into X over claims its Grok AI tool enabled deepfake sexual images, testing the UK's new Online Safety Act.

By Shannon Williams • 4 min read • Fri, 16th Jan 2026
Kendall urges X to curb Grok's AI sexual deepfakes
Generative AI

Kendall urges X to curb Grok's AI sexual deepfakes

Liz Kendall presses X to stop AI tool Grok being used for sexual deepfakes, warning it may be breaching the UK's Online Safety Act rules.

By Mark Tarre • 4 min read • Tue, 13th Jan 2026
Half of UK adults back social media ban for under-16s
Data Protection

Half of UK adults back social media ban for under-16s

Over half of UK adults want under-16s barred from social media, as new polling exposes deep divides over children's online access and safety.

By Sean Mitchell • 4 min read • Thu, 8th Jan 2026
YEO introduces privacy-first facial age and ID checks
Gaming

YEO introduces privacy-first facial age and ID checks

YEO launches real-time facial age and ID checks promising 'unspoofable' privacy-first verification for social media, gaming and finance.

By Joseph Gabriel Lagonsin • 4 min read • Wed, 7th Jan 2026
Most UK parents back plans to cap kids' social media use
Gaming

Most UK parents back plans to cap kids' social media use

Two thirds of UK parents back government plans to cap children's social media at two hours a day, new Uswitch research suggests.

By Shannon Williams • 5 min read • Fri, 12th Dec 2025
UK banks face rising AI-driven fraud as tech outpaces rules
Endpoint Protection

UK banks face rising AI-driven fraud as tech outpaces rules

UK banks face rising AI-driven fraud in 2026 as criminals exploit gaps in regulation, prompting calls for urgent cross-sector action to protect consumers.

By Sean Mitchell • 5 min read • Fri, 5th Dec 2025
Instagram safety campaign blocked over Meta influence concerns
Marketing Technologies

Instagram safety campaign blocked over Meta influence concerns

An Instagram safety campaign has been blocked by advertisers over fears it might upset Meta, highlighting Big Tech's influence in advertising decisions.

By Sean Mitchell • 3 min read • Sat, 22nd Nov 2025
Why APP fraud is still rising and how we can stop the surge
Payment Technologies

Why APP fraud is still rising and how we can stop the surge

APP fraud, rising to 42% of UK losses in 2025, causes £2,300 lost per minute, urging banks and tech firms to boost joint防efforts.

By Jonathan Frost • 4 min read • Tue, 18th Nov 2025
Compliance & education reshape influencer marketing in UK & EU
Application Performance Monitoring

Compliance & education reshape influencer marketing in UK & EU

UK and EU influencer marketing evolves with stricter compliance and education, boosting transparency and professionalism amid rising regulatory demands.

By Melvin Hipolito • 3 min read • Mon, 17th Nov 2025

Global Stories

Online Safety Act stories

myFirst expands kid-safe tech ecosystem with Circle app
Storage

myFirst expands kid-safe tech ecosystem with Circle app

myFirst expands its kid-focused tech range and Circle app, offering smartphone-style features with tighter safety controls for families.

By Mark Tarre • 4 min read • Tue, 10th Feb 2026
Fraud expert warns FCA Firm Checker will not stop scams
Fintech

Fraud expert warns FCA Firm Checker will not stop scams

A leading fraud expert says the FCA's new Firm Checker will boost transparency but leave sophisticated social engineering scams largely untouched.

By Joseph Gabriel Lagonsin • 4 min read • Thu, 8th Jan 2026

Stories from Other Regions

Online Safety Act stories

Australia regulators unite on privacy & online safety
Data Protection

Australia regulators unite on privacy & online safety

Growing use of age-check tools and AI is forcing Australian regulators to coordinate more closely on child safety and personal data.

By Sofiah Nichole Salivio • 3 min read • Fri, 24th Apr 2026
Exclusive: Media.com helps verify users amidst Australia's U16 social media ban
Data Protection

Exclusive: Media.com helps verify users amidst Australia's U16 social media ban

As Australia clamps down on under-16s online, Media.com bets its fully verified social network can profit from the global safety push.

By Melania Watson • 4 min read • Fri, 12th Dec 2025