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Germany Considers Social Media Ban for Under-14s

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Germany is moving closer to restricting children’s access to social media, as lawmakers from the centre-left Social Democratic Party joined their conservative coalition partners in proposing new limits.

The proposal calls for a formal ban on social media use for children under the age of 14. For teenagers aged 14 to 16, the plan suggests creating special youth versions of platforms that would exclude features such as algorithm-driven feeds, personalised content, autoplay and endless scrolling.

Supporters argue the move is necessary to protect young users from harmful online content including hate speech and violent material.

The initiative follows a similar push from conservative lawmakers, who are advocating for a broader ban for under-16s. With backing from both major coalition parties, the chances of new regulations being introduced have increased.

However, implementing nationwide rules could prove complex. Under Germany’s federal system, media regulation falls under the authority of individual states, meaning regional governments must coordinate to establish unified standards.

Germany joins a growing number of countries considering tighter controls on youth access to social media following similar measures adopted in Australia.

Facebook removes page accused of harassing ICE agents after DOJ request

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Meta Platforms has taken down a Facebook page that the U.S. Department of Justice said was being used to harass Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents operating in Chicago, officials confirmed on Tuesday.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Attorney General Pam Bondi said the page was part of an effort to “dox and target” roughly 200 ICE officers deployed as part of President Donald Trump’s immigration enforcement campaign. Doxxing refers to the practice of publishing private information about individuals online, often to encourage harassment.

A Meta spokesperson confirmed the page’s removal, saying it violated Facebook’s policies against coordinated harm. The Justice Department did not provide further details, and Reuters was unable to access or review the page before it was taken down.

The takedown follows broader efforts by the Trump administration to clamp down on digital tools tracking ICE operations. Earlier this month, Apple and Google removed apps that allowed users to monitor ICE agent movements, following government pressure and threats of legal action against developers.

ICE has played a central role in Trump’s hardline immigration policy, carrying out frequent raids and arrests that have drawn criticism from human rights advocates. The administration, however, has accused left-wing activists of harassing and obstructing federal officers.

The decision also comes amid Meta’s attempts to repair its relationship with the Trump administration, following past clashes over content moderation and account suspensions. The company recently contributed $1 million to Trump’s inaugural fund and settled a lawsuit over his banned accounts for $25 million.

Meta Appoints Joel Kaplan as Chief Global Affairs Officer, Replacing Nick Clegg

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Meta Platforms has named Joel Kaplan, a prominent Republican and long-time executive at the company, as its new Chief Global Affairs Officer, replacing Nick Clegg. The leadership change comes as Meta navigates its relationship with President-elect Donald Trump, who has criticized the company’s handling of political content and threatened legal actions against its CEO, Mark Zuckerberg.

Nick Clegg, who joined Meta in 2018 after serving as the British deputy prime minister and leader of the Liberal Democrats, announced his decision to step down from his role on social media. Clegg stated, “Joel is quite clearly the right person for the right job at the right time—ideally placed to shape the company’s strategy as societal and political expectations around technology continue to evolve.”

Kaplan’s Background and Controversies

Kaplan, who has been with Meta since 2011, previously served as Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy under former Republican President George W. Bush. During his tenure at Meta, Kaplan has been a controversial figure. He has faced accusations of promoting a conservative agenda while advocating for political neutrality. Internal company documents leaked by a whistleblower in 2021 revealed claims that Kaplan had influenced Meta’s content moderation policies to favor Republican political figures, a charge the company has denied.

Kaplan’s attendance at a Senate hearing in 2018 supporting Brett Kavanaugh, a Supreme Court nominee accused of sexual assault, further fueled employee discontent. Meta later admitted to “mistakes handling the events” surrounding Kaplan’s public stance.

Despite these controversies, Kaplan is seen as a strategic choice to lead Meta’s global policy and communications teams as the company works to align its approach with evolving political expectations. Kevin Martin, another Meta executive with Republican ties, will succeed Kaplan as head of global policy.

Meta’s Relationship with the Incoming Trump Administration

The leadership transition coincides with Meta’s efforts to mend relations with President-elect Trump following years of strained interactions. Trump, who was banned from Meta’s platforms in 2021 after the Capitol riots, has accused the company of bias against conservatives and suppressing content critical of Joe Biden during the 2020 election.

Since Trump’s election victory in November, Meta has taken steps to improve its standing with the incoming administration. The company has donated $1 million to Trump’s inaugural fund, breaking from its previous practices, and CEO Mark Zuckerberg has publicly expressed regret over content moderation decisions that alienated conservative users.

Meta’s overtures appear to have softened tensions, with Trump no longer publicly targeting the company as aggressively as in the past. However, critics argue that these moves raise questions about Meta’s commitment to unbiased content moderation and its broader influence on political discourse.

The Road Ahead for Meta

Kaplan’s appointment signals a strategic pivot as Meta faces heightened scrutiny over its role in shaping public opinion and its policies surrounding political content. The company will likely face pressure to balance the expectations of conservative political leaders, internal employee concerns, and the broader public’s demand for transparent and equitable content governance.