We report on new guidance for video sharing platforms to keep users safe, reports of dangerously unsafe toys sold online and widespread breaches of the Children’s Code. We also warn of a rise in number and sophistication of scam delivery messages.
A survey directed to viewers of child sexual abuse material on the dark web reveals worrying statistics about the availability and impact of such material. Facebook delays its plans for an Instagram for under 13’s following leaked evidence of harm.
We report this week on misinformation about Covid vaccines on TikTok, a rise in online fraud, evidence that extremists are exploiting video games and chatrooms to spread hateful messages and recent action against copyright infringers.
Leaked research reveals Facebook’s awareness of potential harm to teens using Instagram, children’s gaming platform targeted by users who encourage sexualised behaviour, a step forward in Snapchat safety and a warning about vaccine fraud are highlighted in our newsletter this week.
Funding to encourage innovative solutions to detect online child sex abuse without compromising privacy and E2E encryption, increase in peer-on-peer abuse and a partnership to provide age-rated content on Netflix are our focus this week.
Apple’s plans to introduce tools to reduce child exploitation are temporarily put on hold but the impact of the Age-Appropriate Design Code brings welcome improvements to a range of social media platforms both in the UK and abroad.
Online grooming crimes continue to increase, lockdown led to increased screen time for children and adults, Apple App store protections for children put in doubt and we welcome the implementation of the ICO’s Children’s Code this week.
This week we report on the potential for sexual consent by app, the introduction of scans of iOS devices to detect child abuse images, calls for a ban on “nudifying” software and concerns about a new disappearing messages feature on WhatsApp.
IWF warning of online sexual abuse of teens, changes to protect teens from inappropriate social media advertising, more scrutiny of the Online Safety Bill and an online travel rip-off are all in our newsletter this week.