UK

The UK Government would not support an Australia-style blanket ban on under-16s using social media, the Technology Secretary has said.Peter Kyle said he believes decisions about when children should access social media should be left to parents.Last year, he had suggested such a ban in the UK could be “on the table” if companies did not take action to protect children, but has since softened his stance on the issue, suggesting in January he had “no plans” for such a ban.Australia introduced the world’s highest age restriction on social media use last year, barring children under 16 from creating accounts.But Mr Kyle has said the UK should not follow suit.Speaking to Nicky Campbell on BBC Radio 5 Live, he said: “Parents need to have the flexibility to parent in a way that’s suitable for their children and circumstances.“I’m trying to get the balance right between giving parents the freedom to be parents but also having absolute backstops.“Porn going into young children’s hands – that’s a backstop. Violent misogynistic content – that’s a backstop.“If government can get the fundamentals right, that can give parents the freedom to introduce children to social media and some of the developmental potential.“Most platforms are available from 13 plus – parents should decide if it’s 13, 14, even up to 18.”In November, Mr Kyle told the Telegraph newspaper that the UK could move to to “another level of regulation” if tech companies do not get together to enforce the Online Safety Act.At the time, he said he did not want to pursue further law changes until he sees how the Online Safety Act works.But he signalled he had been speaking to politicians from Australia where social media restrictions for under-16s have been approved by its parliament.Asked if the UK could push its age limits up to 16, Mr Kyle told the Telegraph: “When it comes to keeping young people safe, everything is on the table.”Mr Kyle’s latest comments came on the day Ofcom published its final codes of practice, under the Online Safety Act, laying out how tech firms must protect children from harmful content.It includes requiring firms to make their algorithms safe for children by not recommending them harmful material, and pushing firms to implement age verification tools – such as ID or credit card checks – to ensure children do not access inappropriate or harmful content. More

Ed Miliband has confirmed the government is looking at plans to charge homes in the South more for electricity after critics dubbed the plans a “postcode lottery”.The ‘zonal pricing’ system would mean different regions are charged different rates for energy, with prices being determined by supply and demand in each area. With Scotland benefitting from greater wind supplies, its likely that homes in the South could face higher bills as a result of the scheme. The energy secretary said ministers will “make a calm and considered decision” on the issue, arguing the government’s main priority is to “cut bills” in a “way that’s fair”. Ed Miliband confirmed ministers are considering the system More

Ofcom’s new online safety rules to protect children will be “transformational” and will force tech firms to “do things in a different way”, the regulator has said.Ofcom published its final children’s codes of practice on Thursday, setting out rules for how websites and apps must protect children from harmful content, including by using age assurance tools and reconfiguring algorithms to prevent young people accessing illegal and harmful material.However, some online safety campaigners have argued the rules do not go far enough and give tech firms too much control over their approach and to define what content is harmful, rather than forcing them to block it.Andy Burrows, chief executive of the Molly Rose Foundation – set up in honour of Molly Russell, who chose to end her life, aged 14, after viewing harmful content on social media – said Ofcom’s proposals are a “whole series of missed opportunities” that were “giving far too much weight to industry – rather than focusing on how it builds measures or how it sets objectives that can actually tackle the problem”.But Almudena Lara, Ofcom’s child protection policy director, said she disagrees with that assessment, insisting the new rules will completely change the landscape of social media.She told the PA news agency: “We need to start from the position of absolute respect for all these campaigners and the lived, horrific experiences that many of them have gone through, and I would, if I were in their shoes, always want to go further and faster, I take that as a given, but I disagree that these are not an ambitious set of rules.“These are completely transformational. When implemented, all companies need to do things in a different way to where they are now – no company is at present meeting the requirements that we are putting out there when it comes to protecting children.“Of course, we all want to go further and faster, and we will continue to work on this, and we have already announced that we are going to put out further rules.“But that doesn’t detract from the fact that this is a very important moment, and this will be transformational.”Under the codes, any site which hosts pornography or content which encourages self-harm, suicide or eating disorders, must have robust age verification tools in place in order to protect children from accessing that content.Those tools could be the use of facial age estimation technology, photo ID matching, or credit card checks to verify age more reliably.In addition, platforms will be required to configure their algorithms to filter out harmful content from children’s feeds and recommendations, ensuring they are not sent down a rabbit hole of harmful content, as well as giving children more control over their online experience through tools to block and filter out content and connection requests.In total, the codes set out 40 practical measures firms must meet by July in order to fulfil their duties under the Online Safety Act.As well as fines, which can be up to £18 million or 10% of qualifying global revenue – which could reach billions of pounds for the largest firms – Ofcom will also have the power to seek a court order banning access to a site in the UK, in the most extreme cases.The NSPCC said the rules mark a “major step forward” for online safety, but added it wants to see Ofcom and the Government go further.Rani Govender, policy manager for child safety online at the children’s charity, said: “This is a pivotal moment for children’s safety online. After seven years of campaigning, today marks a major step forward towards holding tech companies accountable for protecting children from harm on their platforms.“However, unless Ofcom goes further to deliver the strong protections children need and deserve, they will continue to face preventable harm online. Private messaging platforms remain especially concerning as unmoderated harmful content can spread like wildfire.“While Ofcom have looked to add some protections, end-to-end encrypted services will continue to pose an unacceptable, major risk to children under the current plans.“We look forward to reviewing the codes further, but it’s crucial to remember these measures are an important stepping stone rather than the end solution.“Both Government and Ofcom must act with urgency to build on these codes to ensure children are successfully protected from harm online.”Campaigners have also previously raised concerns that tech giants, predominately based in the US, could pressure President Donald Trump to demand carve-outs for big platforms as part of any trade deal with the UK.Speaking to Sky News, Mr Burrows said: “I don’t think any parents watching this morning would expect that our children’s online safety be at the whims of geopolitics.“It shouldn’t be determined by Elon Musk and (US vice-president) JD Vance in the White House, rather than the UK’s independent regulators and politicians.“The reality is, children’s lives and children’s wellbeing just should not be jeopardised for the sake of trade deals or a particularly distorted view of economic growth.”Peter Kyle, the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, has said US tech firms “must adhere to British laws” if they are to operate in the UK.Speaking to Nicky Campbell on BBC Radio 5 Live, he said Silicon Valley bosses such as Mr Musk and Mark Zuckerberg must “adapt to the different territories they have access to”.He added: “I’ve had the pleasure of visiting these companies, both in Silicon Valley and at their offices here in the UK.“I do explain to them how brilliant Britain is – but actually being active in our society is a privilege, not a right.“If you have that access, you must obey and adhere to British laws, and you must pay heed to keeping people safe.” More

For years, UK households have paid roughly the same price for electricity, no matter where they live – a system built on the idea that access to energy should be fair and equal.But is that about to change?The government is now considering a controversial new “zonal pricing” plan, which would see electricity bills vary by region based on local supply and demand. That could mean cheaper energy in wind-rich areas like Scotland, and higher bills in the South of England, where energy supply is more limited.Supporters argue it’s a smarter, greener way to reflect how energy is actually produced and used. But critics, including Labour donor and green energy tycoon Dale Vince, have called it “madness”, warning it could create a postcode lottery where millions end up paying more.Ed Miliband has insisted that no decision has been made on what he called “a very complex and important issue.” Speaking on the Today programme, the energy secretary said both zonal and reformed national pricing are being considered, but stressed: “Whatever route we go down, my bottom line is bills have got to fall – and they should fall throughout the country.”He also ruled out introducing a “postcode lottery”, but with pressure mounting from all sides, the debate is heating up fast.So, we want to hear from you. Should where you live decide how much you pay for electricity – or is that just unfair?Vote in our poll and let us know your thoughts in the comments. More

Keir Starmer has been urged to fine nuisance public transport users who play music out loud on buses and trains up to £1,000.Amid growing public anger at what the party dubbed “headphone dodgers”, Sir Ed Davey is pushing for a crack down on the antisocial behaviour. The Liberal Democrats are seeking a change in the law that would explicitly ban playing music and videos out loud on English public transport. Ed Davey’s party is pushing for a crackdown on antisocial bus behaviour More

Social media and other internet platforms will be legally required to block children’s access to harmful content from July or face massive fines, Ofcom has said.The regulator has published the final version of its Children’s Codes under the Online Safety Act, setting out what sites must do to follow the law and protect children online.Under the codes, any site which hosts pornography, or content which encourages self-harm, suicide or eating disorders must have robust age verification tools in place in order to protect children from accessing that content.Those tools could be the use of facial age estimation technology, photo ID matching, or credit card checks to verify age more reliably.In addition, platforms will be required to configure their algorithms to filter out harmful content from children’s feeds and recommendations, ensuring they are not sent down a rabbit hole of harmful content.Platforms will also be required to give children more control over their online experience, including indicating what content they don’t like, as well as robust controls to block connection requests, comments and other controls.In total, the codes set out 40 practical measures firms must meet by July in order to fulfil their duties under the Online Safety Act.As well as fines, which can be up to £18 million or 10% of qualifying global revenue – which could reach billions of pounds for the largest firms – Ofcom will also have the power to seek a court order banning access to a site in the UK, in the most extreme cases.Ofcom chief executive, Dame Melanie Dawes, said: “These changes are a reset for children online. They will mean safer social media feeds with less harmful and dangerous content, protections from being contacted by strangers and effective age checks on adult content.“Ofcom has been tasked with bringing about a safer generation of children online, and if companies fail to act they will face enforcement.”Technology Secretary Peter Kyle said the publication of the codes was a “watershed moment” after years of “exposed, poisonous environments” online.“Growing up in the digital age should mean children can reap the immense benefits of the online world safely but in recent years too many young people have been exposed to lawless, poisonous environments online which we know can lead to real and sometimes fatal consequences. This cannot continue,” he said.“The Children’s Safety codes should be a watershed moment – turning the tide on toxic experiences on these platforms – with the largest social media companies now having to prioritise children’s safety by law.“This means age checks to stop children being exposed to the most extreme harmful content, as well as changes to platform design including algorithms to stop young users being served up harmful content they often aren’t even seeking.“Like parents across the country I expect to see these laws help create a safer online world, so we set every child up for the best start in life.“But we won’t hesitate to go further to protect our children; they are the foundation not the limit when it comes to children’s safety online.”However, some online safety campaigners have warned that the Online Safety Act in its current form was not adequate in its protection of internet users, and in particular children, and fails to cover areas of concern.Ian Russell, now chairman of charity the Molly Rose Foundation, set up in his daughter’s name after she chose to end her life aged 14, in 2017, after viewing harmful content on social media, said Ofcom’s codes would not protect young people.Mr Russell urged the Prime Minister to step in and strengthen the Online Safety Act.“I am dismayed by the lack of ambition in today’s codes. Instead of moving fast to fix things, the painful reality is that Ofcom’s measures will fail to prevent more young deaths like my daughter Molly’s,” he said.“Ofcom’s risk averse approach is a bitter pill for bereaved parents to swallow. Their overly cautious codes put the bottom line of reckless tech companies ahead of tackling preventable harm.“We lose at least one young life to tech-related suicide every single week in the UK which is why today’s sticking plaster approach cannot be allowed to stand.“A speedy remedy is within reach if the Prime Minister personally intervenes to fix this broken system. Less than one in 10 parents think Ofcom is doing enough and Sir Keir Starmer must commit without delay to strengthen online safety legislation.” More