Children say they can beat age checks by drawing on a fake mustache

It’s been months since the UK government began requiring stronger age checks under the Online Safety Act, and recent research suggests those measures are falling short of keeping kids away from harmful content. In some cases, even drawing on a Read More …

Europe rolls out online age verification app to protect young people

Europe doesn’t want to hear any more excuses from tech platforms for why they can’t verify users’ ages. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Tuesday announced a new European age verification app that will give users a sort Read More …

UAE: Up to 100 people arrested by police for filming drone or missile strikes

Up to 100 people have been arrested by police in the UAE for filming drone or missile strikes, it emerged this morning. Abu Dhabi Police alone have arrested 45 people of multiple nationalities for filming various locations amid current ongoing Read More …

In 2025, age checks started locking people out of the internet

If 2024 was the year lawmakers talked about online age verification, 2025 was the year they actually flipped the switch.​ In 2025, across parts of Europe and the US, age checks for certain websites (especially pornography) turned long‑running child‑protection debates Read More …

Australia: Age verification errors see some under-16s retain access to banned social media platforms

It’s day one of the social media ban and, unsurprisingly, it hasn’t been a smooth launch. Many children have already been able to get around the ban in various ways, with age assurance systems misclassifying users and workarounds such as Read More …

X gets $140 million EU fine for breaching content rules but TikTok settles

Elon Musk’s social media company X was fined 120 million euros ($140 million) by EU tech regulators on Friday for breaching online content rules, the first sanction under landmark legislation that once again drew criticism from the U.S. government. While Read More …

Surveillance tech provider Protei was hacked, its data stolen, and its website defaced

A Russian telecom company that develops technology to allow phone and internet companies to conduct web surveillance and censorship was hacked, had its website defaced, and had data stolen from its servers, TechCrunch has learned. Founded in Russia, Protei makes Read More …

Irish regulator launches investigation into X over handling of reports from users

Ireland’s media regulator has commenced a formal investigation into X over concerns about how it handles reported content. Coimisiún na Meán suspects the platform, formerly known as Twitter, may not be in compliance with its obligations under Article 20 of Read More …

Nepal: Protesters defy curfew, set fire to leaders’ homes

Nepali Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli resigned Tuesday, Reuters reported, after days of mass protests over a social media ban and official corruption in the Himalayan nation culminated in the torching of top leaders’ homes as well as the Parliament Read More …