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UK Introduces 48-Hour Rule for Image Removal

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The United Kingdom is set to require technology platforms to remove nonconsensual intimate images within 48 hours of being reported or face significant financial penalties.

Under proposed legal changes, companies that fail to act within the deadline could be fined up to 10 percent of their eligible global revenue and may even risk having their services restricted.

The move comes as part of broader efforts to strengthen online protections, particularly in response to growing concerns about digital abuse and the misuse of artificial intelligence to create explicit content.

While sharing such material is already illegal in the UK, victims have often struggled to ensure its permanent removal. The new rules aim to simplify the process by allowing individuals to report content once, after which platforms must prevent its reappearance across their services.

Media regulator Ofcom is also considering new technical requirements, including the use of hash-matching systems to detect and block illegal material before it spreads.

The initiative forms part of a wider debate around online safety, including discussions on potential limits for younger users on social media platforms.

Bithumb Blames System Flaws for $40 Billion Bitcoin Error

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South Korea’s crypto exchange Bithumb said serious internal system flaws allowed an erroneous transfer of more than $40 billion in bitcoin during a promotional event last week, prompting regulatory scrutiny and market volatility. The exchange accidentally distributed about 620,000 bitcoins to customers instead of 620,000 won ($426), triggering a sharp 17% drop in bitcoin prices on its platform.

Chief Executive Lee Jae-won told lawmakers the error was exacerbated by a roughly 24-hour processing lag that delayed balance updates. The mistaken transfer amounted to roughly 15 times the exchange’s bitcoin holdings. Internal safeguards—including checks comparing transfer volumes with actual reserves—failed, and the assets were not earmarked in a separate account to ensure transaction safety.

Most of the bitcoins have since been recovered, though regulators said 1,786 coins were sold before accounts were frozen. Authorities stated that customers who sold the mistakenly credited assets are legally required to return them. The incident has sparked criticism in parliament over oversight failures in one of the world’s most active crypto markets.

The head of the Financial Supervisory Service said the episode underscores the need for stronger regulatory frameworks, adding that virtual asset platforms should ideally face oversight similar to banks, though current laws do not yet provide that authority.

Turkey Moves Toward Limiting Social Media Access for Minors

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Turkey is edging closer to restricting social media access for minors, as a parliamentary report recommends sweeping measures including age verification, content filtering, and potential bans. The proposals align Turkey with a growing global push to tighten controls over children’s online activity amid concerns about addiction, harmful content, and mental wellbeing.

Lawmakers from President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s ruling Justice and Development Party are expected to submit draft legislation soon. Family and Social Services Minister Mahinur Ozdemir Goktas has said the bill would include a social media ban for minors and require platforms to implement content-filtering systems. The parliamentary commission also recommended night-time internet restrictions for under-18s, mandatory content filtration until age 18, and a full social media ban until age 16.

The report goes further, urging rapid removal of harmful content without prior notice and monitoring of children’s games and AI-enabled toys. Supporters say the measures are needed to curb digital addiction and protect children from inappropriate material. Critics, including social media companies, warn that weak age-verification tools could undermine bans and push minors toward unregulated platforms.

Turkey already enforces strict online controls, with over 1.2 million web pages and posts blocked by the end of 2024, according to local watchdog IFOD. Platforms face fines of up to 3% of global revenue, ad bans, and bandwidth reductions for non-compliance. Several services—including Roblox, Discord, and Wattpad—have already been banned. As debates intensify, Turkey joins countries like Australia, Spain, France, Britain, and Germany in weighing tougher rules for minors online.