Age Verification Tools, Upskirting, Scam Prevention by FCA & More

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META TRIALS SELFIE AGE VERIFICATION ON INSTAGRAM

Instagram owner Meta is to trial using selfie videos as a means of age verification.  New facial analysis software will assess a user’s age from a video of themselves they post to the platform.

It comes after reports that some users under the age of 13 attempt to create accounts on the platform by changing their date of birth.

The technology supplements two other methods of age verification: users can also submit a valid form of photo ID or get three adults to corroborate their age.

“We want to work with others in our industry, and with governments, to set clear standards for age verification online,” Meta said in an update.

“AI helps us prevent teens from accessing Facebook Dating, adults from messaging teens and helps teens from receiving restricted ad content.”

UPSKIRTING VIDEOS NOT TAKEN DOWN BY FACEBOOK, BBC FINDS

Upskirting videos posted to Facebook groups were not taken down by Meta after being reported, a BBC investigation has found.

BBC journalists reported a number of upskirting videos found on the platform, but the content was not initially removed from the platform as the reporters were told the content “doesn’t go against one of [Facebook’s] specific community standards.”

The BBC said it found thousands of examples of upskirting on the platform. One man who posted videos is now under investigation by police in New York.

Meta told the BBC it had since removed a large number of accounts and groups posting pictures and videos of upskirting.

FCA TO TACKLE SCAMS FASTER AS PART OF DATA STRATEGY

The Financial Conduct Authority is to act faster to tackle online scams as part of its updated data strategy.

The regulator says it will scan 10,000 websites created each day to identify sites that have scams and request that web hosts take the sites down.

The FCA added 1,966 possible scams to its consumer warning list in the year to April 2022, an increase of over a third on the previous year.

“Better use of data means we can be more proactive and find and stop harm faster,” said Jessica Rusu, FCA Chief Data, Information and Intelligence Officer.

“We are continuing to improve our data, technology and capabilities to act decisively in consumers interests, while making it easier for firms to report to us.”

It comes as consumer advice site Which? reported a new iPhone scam aimed at users of payments system Apple Pay.  According to Which?, users are sent a text telling them their account has been suspended and they must click on a link to reactivate the account.

Which? has advised consumers never to click links they receive in text messages.

CHILDREN’S COMMISSIONER ISSUES CALL TO ACTION FOR PARENTS

Parents of young children aged 0-4 are being invited to share their parenting experiences as part of the Children’s Commissioner’s call to action.

Among a list of questions in the survey, parents are asked where they go for parenting advice and resources, whether there has been a particular time when more parenting support would have been helpful, and what an ideal family support centre looks like.

It follows an earlier call to action in which children were asked to describe what ‘family’ means to them. The Commission received 3,700 responses.

“We know how important early years are for children’s outcomes and how challenging this period can be for new parents,” Children’s Commissioner Dame Rachel de Souza said.

“We want to hear from you about the support you need when raising young children.” Parents can participate in the survey here.


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