Yazılar

UK Introduces 48-Hour Rule for Image Removal

/in /tarafından

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.

Germany Moves Toward Social Media Limits for Children

/in /tarafından

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has voiced support for stricter controls on children’s access to social media, citing increasing concern over misinformation and digital manipulation.

Speaking ahead of the Christian Union party conference, Merz pointed to the risks posed by artificial content such as fabricated news and manipulated media. He noted that young teenagers now spend an average of over five hours online daily, raising questions about the broader societal impact.

A proposal set to be discussed includes restricting access to platforms like TikTok and Instagram for users under the age of 16. Similar discussions are underway across Europe, with countries such as Spain, France and Greece exploring potential limitations.

Merz acknowledged that his perspective had evolved, highlighting the underestimated influence of algorithms and targeted online messaging. He dismissed the idea of gradual exposure to social media as a sufficient safeguard, emphasizing the need for structural protections.

While federal support appears to be growing, implementing nationwide restrictions may require coordination between Germany’s states due to the decentralized nature of media regulation.

A government-appointed commission examining online safety for young people is expected to present its findings later this year.

Musk’s X Back Online After Brief US, UK Outage

/in /tarafından

Elon Musk’s social media platform X returned to normal operations after experiencing a brief outage that affected users in both the United States and the United Kingdom.

According to outage tracking service Downdetector, reports of disruptions in the U.S. peaked at nearly 40,000 before dropping significantly to around 730 by late morning. In the UK, more than 11,000 users reported issues at the height of the disruption.

The figures are based on user-submitted reports, meaning the total number of affected users may have varied.

X did not immediately comment on the cause of the outage.

The disruption comes amid ongoing structural changes within Musk’s business ecosystem. Earlier moves included folding X into his artificial intelligence venture xAI through a share swap, followed more recently by SpaceX acquiring the AI startup.