#onlinesafety — Public Fediverse posts

one of Burnham's tech policy advisors pulling a surprised Pikachu face that U16 social media bans caused an undesirable chain reaction is so hilarious

"A global movement [...] has gained momentum, winning social media bans for children in Australia, Spain, France and the UK. But what is curious is that there is now no obvious stopping point for regulation." https://www.arguably.uk/p/the-war-on-digital-harms-needs-limits

#Privacy #SocialMediaBan #SocialMedia #AgeVerification #Surveillance #Tech #Technology #TechPolicy #OnlineSafety

one of Burnham's tech policy advisors pulling a surprised Pikachu face that U16 social media bans caused an undesirable chain reaction is so hilarious

"A global movement [...] has gained momentum, winning social media bans for children in Australia, Spain, France and the UK. But what is curious is that there is now no obvious stopping point for regulation." https://www.arguably.uk/p/the-war-on-digital-harms-needs-limits

#Privacy #SocialMediaBan #SocialMedia #AgeVerification #Surveillance #Tech #Technology #TechPolicy #OnlineSafety

Associated Press: States take Meta to trial in California in the biggest fight yet over social media harms to children. “Of the thousands of lawsuits Meta faces over child safety on its platforms, none may be more consequential than one going to trial this week in California. States are seeking extensive financial damages that could, in theory, total as much as $1.4 trillion, plus changes to […]

Associated Press: States take Meta to trial in California in the biggest fight yet over social media harms to children. “Of the thousands of lawsuits Meta faces over child safety on its platforms, none may be more consequential than one going to trial this week in California. States are seeking extensive financial damages that could, in theory, total as much as $1.4 trillion, plus changes to […]

AI deepfake scams are impersonating Australia's most public faces
By Jasper Wells

Regulators are removing record numbers of fake celebrity-endorsed investment scams, using AI images of famous figures from the prime minister to Alan Kohler and Gina Rinehart.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-08-17/asic-ai-powered-impersonation-scams-warning-alan-kohler/107038256

#AI #ConsumerProtection #AIEthics #OnlineSafety #JasperWells

AI deepfake scams are impersonating Australia's most public faces
By Jasper Wells

Regulators are removing record numbers of fake celebrity-endorsed investment scams, using AI images of famous figures from the prime minister to Alan Kohler and Gina Rinehart.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-08-17/asic-ai-powered-impersonation-scams-warning-alan-kohler/107038256

#AI #ConsumerProtection #AIEthics #OnlineSafety #JasperWells

Sun-Journal: Is the Maine news on your social media feed AI-generated? How you can tell.. “Paywall-free, editorially derelict and tuned for social media engagement, AI local news is exploding online in Maine in the age of the attention-grabbing algorithm and declining trust in legacy media. While some avid news readers are skeptical of these sites, others engage unknowingly, with the sometimes […]

Sun-Journal: Is the Maine news on your social media feed AI-generated? How you can tell.. “Paywall-free, editorially derelict and tuned for social media engagement, AI local news is exploding online in Maine in the age of the attention-grabbing algorithm and declining trust in legacy media. While some avid news readers are skeptical of these sites, others engage unknowingly, with the sometimes […]

Pew Research: Americans’ use of social media for health information differs by race and ethnicity. “Overall, 36% of U.S. adults say they get health information from social media at least sometimes, according to a Pew Research Center survey from October 2025. But this varies by racial and ethnic group. Hispanic (49%), Asian (47%) and Black adults (45%) are particularly likely to get health […]

Pew Research: Americans’ use of social media for health information differs by race and ethnicity. “Overall, 36% of U.S. adults say they get health information from social media at least sometimes, according to a Pew Research Center survey from October 2025. But this varies by racial and ethnic group. Hispanic (49%), Asian (47%) and Black adults (45%) are particularly likely to get health […]

Futurism: Grok Calls for Assassination of Elon Musk, Accusing Him of Pedophilia. “Elon Musk’s “maximum truth-seeking” AI Grok is dropping some nuclear takes about its creator. ‘ELON MUSK WATCHES CHILD PORN,’ the notoriously foul-mouthed chatbot raged on X this Tuesday. Shortly afterwards, as if hyping up a political campaign, it called for violence: ‘ASSASSINATE ELON MUSK 2026.'”

Futurism: Grok Calls for Assassination of Elon Musk, Accusing Him of Pedophilia. “Elon Musk’s “maximum truth-seeking” AI Grok is dropping some nuclear takes about its creator. ‘ELON MUSK WATCHES CHILD PORN,’ the notoriously foul-mouthed chatbot raged on X this Tuesday. Shortly afterwards, as if hyping up a political campaign, it called for violence: ‘ASSASSINATE ELON MUSK 2026.'”

Personal data is often collected and sold without consent, leading to increased spam and potential scams. Incogni offers an automated solution to remove your family's information from data brokers, enhancing privacy and reducing unwanted communications. They're currently offering a 55% discount, making it more accessible to protect your family's online presence.

#Privacy #DataProtection #Incogni #CyberSecurity #OnlineSafety #DataBrokers

https://thedailytechfeed.com/protect-your-familys-privacy-with-incognis-55-discount/

Young people have their say: rethink the UK social media ban.

It makes a bad situation worse. Teens are just being pushed into unregulated spaces.

A ban does nothing to actually tackle the cause of online harms coming from the business model of the platforms themselves.

That’s what we need to fix.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/prime-minister-burnham-uk-government-scotland-keir-starmer-b3031838.html

#socialmediaban #ageverification #bigtech #onlinesafety #ukpolitics #ukpol

Young people have their say: rethink the UK social media ban.

It makes a bad situation worse. Teens are just being pushed into unregulated spaces.

A ban does nothing to actually tackle the cause of online harms coming from the business model of the platforms themselves.

That’s what we need to fix.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/prime-minister-burnham-uk-government-scotland-keir-starmer-b3031838.html

#socialmediaban #ageverification #bigtech #onlinesafety #ukpolitics #ukpol

France’s Constitutional Council struck down a law banning social media for children under 15, ruling it unconstitutional. The decision is a setback for Macron, who strongly backed the measure. The court cited concerns that the law was unclear and restricted freedom of expression and communication. https://sfg.media/en/a/france-court-strikes-down-social-media-ban-under-15 #France #SocialMedia #Macron #OnlineSafety

France’s Constitutional Council struck down a law banning social media for children under 15, ruling it unconstitutional. The decision is a setback for Macron, who strongly backed the measure. The court cited concerns that the law was unclear and restricted freedom of expression and communication. https://sfg.media/en/a/france-court-strikes-down-social-media-ban-under-15 #France #SocialMedia #Macron #OnlineSafety

Looking forward to this TFGBV Community of Practice discussion on “Defining Intimacy, Consent and Harm in the Digital Age" hosted by the Sexual Violence Research Initiative (SVRI).

on 25 August 2026,

9 am EDT | 6 pm IST | 3 pm SAST.

Register at: https://www.svri.org/webinars/defining-intimacy-consent-and-harm-in-the-digital-age/

#TFGBV #DigitalSafety #OnlineSafety #OGBV #GBV #DigitalRights #Consent #DigitalConsent #TechAndSociety #GenderAndTechnology

Looking forward to this TFGBV Community of Practice discussion on “Defining Intimacy, Consent and Harm in the Digital Age" hosted by the Sexual Violence Research Initiative (SVRI).

on 25 August 2026,

9 am EDT | 6 pm IST | 3 pm SAST.

Register at: https://www.svri.org/webinars/defining-intimacy-consent-and-harm-in-the-digital-age/

#TFGBV #DigitalSafety #OnlineSafety #OGBV #GBV #DigitalRights #Consent #DigitalConsent #TechAndSociety #GenderAndTechnology

This week's net.wars, "Feeding the Machine", mulls a Texas court's order to lock a foreign-owned .com domain worldwide and the resonance of the strange case of the New Zealand bookshop with Vernor Vinge's novel Rainbows End: https://netwars.pelicancrossing.net/2026/08/14/1386/ #NetWars #AI #OnlineSafety #censorship

This week's net.wars, "Feeding the Machine", mulls a Texas court's order to lock a foreign-owned .com domain worldwide and the resonance of the strange case of the New Zealand bookshop with Vernor Vinge's novel Rainbows End: https://netwars.pelicancrossing.net/2026/08/14/1386/ #NetWars #AI #OnlineSafety #censorship

Bloomberg: Phoebe Gates knew Phia shopping app took credit for sales it didn’t drive. “Phia co-founders Phoebe Gates and Sophia Kianni pushed for features in the e-commerce startup’s software that took credit for sales it didn’t drive, according to internal communications and people with knowledge of the matter.”

Bloomberg: Phoebe Gates knew Phia shopping app took credit for sales it didn’t drive. “Phia co-founders Phoebe Gates and Sophia Kianni pushed for features in the e-commerce startup’s software that took credit for sales it didn’t drive, according to internal communications and people with knowledge of the matter.”

📱🔐 YOUR PHONE KNOWS MORE ABOUT YOU THAN YOU THINK

Location, photos, contacts, apps, connections, permissions — your smartphone can reveal far more about your daily life than most people realize. 👀📍 A few simple privacy checks can make a huge difference in how much information you share and who gets access to it.

💬 Comment PRIVACY if you want more guides to help you take control of your digital footprint.

#CyberSecurity #DigitalPrivacy #OnlineSafety #PhoneSecurity #CyberAwareness

📱🔐 YOUR PHONE KNOWS MORE ABOUT YOU THAN YOU THINK

Location, photos, contacts, apps, connections, permissions — your smartphone can reveal far more about your daily life than most people realize. 👀📍 A few simple privacy checks can make a huge difference in how much information you share and who gets access to it.

💬 Comment PRIVACY if you want more guides to help you take control of your digital footprint.

#CyberSecurity #DigitalPrivacy #OnlineSafety #PhoneSecurity #CyberAwareness

TechSpot: FBI warns hackers are breaking into social media accounts to steal and sell users’ nude photos. “The FBI has issued a warning for anyone who likes to take explicit photos (i.e., nudes) of themselves. Hackers are targeting both adult and underage users by compromising their social media and personal accounts to steal these images and sell them on criminal marketplaces – and they […]

TechSpot: FBI warns hackers are breaking into social media accounts to steal and sell users’ nude photos. “The FBI has issued a warning for anyone who likes to take explicit photos (i.e., nudes) of themselves. Hackers are targeting both adult and underage users by compromising their social media and personal accounts to steal these images and sell them on criminal marketplaces – and they […]

🚨 ACCOUNT COMPROMISED? THE FIRST 10 MINUTES MATTER.

An unexpected login, a password change you didn’t make, or a strange security alert can be an early warning sign. 🔐⏱️ Knowing what to do immediately can help protect your data, secure your identity, and regain control before the situation gets worse.

💬 Comment SECURE if you want more practical account security guides like this.

#CyberSecurity #AccountSecurity #OnlineSafety #DigitalSecurity #CyberAwareness

🚨 ACCOUNT COMPROMISED? THE FIRST 10 MINUTES MATTER.

An unexpected login, a password change you didn’t make, or a strange security alert can be an early warning sign. 🔐⏱️ Knowing what to do immediately can help protect your data, secure your identity, and regain control before the situation gets worse.

💬 Comment SECURE if you want more practical account security guides like this.

#CyberSecurity #AccountSecurity #OnlineSafety #DigitalSecurity #CyberAwareness

Very usefull website about digital #security and #privacy (not only for #political activists):

#internet #vpn #onlinesafety #web #politics #censorship

Digital Security Checklists for Activists
https://activistchecklist.org/

Very usefull website about digital #security and #privacy (not only for #political activists):

#internet #vpn #onlinesafety #web #politics #censorship

Digital Security Checklists for Activists
https://activistchecklist.org/

‘You’re a 4 out of 10’: the troubling rise of AI appearance ratings
#AI #Youth #Tech #BodyImage #MentalHealth #Looksmaxxing #SocialMedia #OnlineSafety #EatingDisorders #DigitalHealth #BodyDysmorphia #MuscleDysmorphia
https://the-14.com/youre-a-4-out-of-10-the-troubling-rise-of-ai-appearance-ratings/

‘You’re a 4 out of 10’: the troubling rise of AI appearance ratings
#AI #Youth #Tech #BodyImage #MentalHealth #Looksmaxxing #SocialMedia #OnlineSafety #EatingDisorders #DigitalHealth #BodyDysmorphia #MuscleDysmorphia
https://the-14.com/youre-a-4-out-of-10-the-troubling-rise-of-ai-appearance-ratings/

BBC: Discord ordered to suspend livestreams in Brazil. “Brazil’s data protection authority (ANPD) has ordered Discord to suspend its livestreaming feature after a teenage girl was allegedly encouraged to take her own life in a broadcast on the platform.”

BBC: Discord ordered to suspend livestreams in Brazil. “Brazil’s data protection authority (ANPD) has ordered Discord to suspend its livestreaming feature after a teenage girl was allegedly encouraged to take her own life in a broadcast on the platform.”

What are the best #private #browsers in 2026?
https://privacytests.org/

Looks pretty exhaustive. And yes, I do use @Vivaldi

#privacy #security #safety #onlinesafety #BrowserSecurity #browser

What are the best #private #browsers in 2026?
https://privacytests.org/

Looks pretty exhaustive, but there are some errors.

I use @Vivaldi

PS, duckduckgo is american, and that means it is less safe for #Canadians to use due to things like FISA, the CLOUD act and the NSA.

#privacy #security #safety #onlinesafety #BrowserSecurity #browser

🪪 IDENTITY THEFT PROTECTION GUIDE — What if someone became YOU?

Your identity is more than just your name. 🔐 Your email, phone number, passwords, financial information and personal data can all become pieces of a puzzle that criminals use to impersonate you.

⚠️ Identity theft can lead to stolen accounts, fraudulent purchases, financial loss and months of recovery. The best defense is prevention: protect your personal information, secure your accounts, recognize the warning signs and act quickly when something feels wrong. 🛡️

This guide shows you the practical steps you can take to make your digital identity much harder to steal. 💻🔒

📌 Protect your data. Secure your accounts. Stay one step ahead.

💬 If you made it to the end, comment “PROTECTED” below. 🔐

#CyberSecurity #IdentityTheft #OnlineSafety #Privacy #CyberAwareness

🪪 IDENTITY THEFT PROTECTION GUIDE — What if someone became YOU?

Your identity is more than just your name. 🔐 Your email, phone number, passwords, financial information and personal data can all become pieces of a puzzle that criminals use to impersonate you.

⚠️ Identity theft can lead to stolen accounts, fraudulent purchases, financial loss and months of recovery. The best defense is prevention: protect your personal information, secure your accounts, recognize the warning signs and act quickly when something feels wrong. 🛡️

This guide shows you the practical steps you can take to make your digital identity much harder to steal. 💻🔒

📌 Protect your data. Secure your accounts. Stay one step ahead.

💬 If you made it to the end, comment “PROTECTED” below. 🔐

#CyberSecurity #IdentityTheft #OnlineSafety #Privacy #CyberAwareness

Spectrum News 1: Ohio looks to file class-action lawsuit against Roblox. “Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson is seeking a lead class-action lawsuit against video game developer Roblox. He filed a motion to lead the case on behalf of the Ohio Public Employees Retirement System and the State Teachers Retirement System of Ohio.”

Spectrum News 1: Ohio looks to file class-action lawsuit against Roblox. “Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson is seeking a lead class-action lawsuit against video game developer Roblox. He filed a motion to lead the case on behalf of the Ohio Public Employees Retirement System and the State Teachers Retirement System of Ohio.”

New York Times: Malaysia Was Confident in Its Social Media Ban, but Kids Are Still Logged In. This link goes to a gift article. “The authorities have asked social media companies to explain their failure to comply with the ban and detail the measures they have taken to implement age verification mechanisms, the Ministry of Communications said in a statement last week. They now have until […]

New York Times: Malaysia Was Confident in Its Social Media Ban, but Kids Are Still Logged In. This link goes to a gift article. “The authorities have asked social media companies to explain their failure to comply with the ban and detail the measures they have taken to implement age verification mechanisms, the Ministry of Communications said in a statement last week. They now have until […]

Associated Press: FBI teams with the NCAA to help athletes avoid sexual exploitation. “The FBI is teaming with the NCAA to start a program to combat sexual exploitation of college athletes whose private images are increasingly found and targeted online in an era when they use their name, image and likeness to enhance their own marketability.”

Associated Press: FBI teams with the NCAA to help athletes avoid sexual exploitation. “The FBI is teaming with the NCAA to start a program to combat sexual exploitation of college athletes whose private images are increasingly found and targeted online in an era when they use their name, image and likeness to enhance their own marketability.”

Reuters: Meta and TikTok agree to fact-check content on Spain border crossings after deadly rush. “Social networks Meta and TikTok have agreed to fact-check content ​on border crossings into Spain following the massive rush ‌to enter the Spanish enclave of Ceuta from Morocco, European Union tech chief Henna Virkkunen said.”

Reuters: Meta and TikTok agree to fact-check content on Spain border crossings after deadly rush. “Social networks Meta and TikTok have agreed to fact-check content ​on border crossings into Spain following the massive rush ‌to enter the Spanish enclave of Ceuta from Morocco, European Union tech chief Henna Virkkunen said.”

🏠🔐 YOUR HOME IS CONNECTED. IS IT PROTECTED?

Smart cameras, lights, speakers, locks and other IoT devices make life easier — but every connected device can become a potential security risk. 📱🛡️

Secure your network. Update your devices. Control access. Protect your smart home. ⚡

#SmartHome #CyberSecurity #IoTSecurity #OnlineSafety #Privacy

🏠🔐 YOUR HOME IS CONNECTED. IS IT PROTECTED?

Smart cameras, lights, speakers, locks and other IoT devices make life easier — but every connected device can become a potential security risk. 📱🛡️

Secure your network. Update your devices. Control access. Protect your smart home. ⚡

#SmartHome #CyberSecurity #IoTSecurity #OnlineSafety #Privacy

🤖 SEEING IS NO LONGER BELIEVING.

AI can clone voices, fake faces and create convincing videos. 🎭📱 What looks or sounds real may no longer be real.

⚠️ Don’t trust instantly. Stop. Verify. Protect yourself. 🛡️

#Deepfake #AIScams #CyberSecurity #OnlineSafety #AI

🤖 SEEING IS NO LONGER BELIEVING.

AI can clone voices, fake faces and create convincing videos. 🎭📱 What looks or sounds real may no longer be real.

⚠️ Don’t trust instantly. Stop. Verify. Protect yourself. 🛡️

#Deepfake #AIScams #CyberSecurity #OnlineSafety #AI

The UK's War on Anonymity Has Come to America

https://www.effort.news/uk-lobby

Comments: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49251411

#HackerNews #UKAnon #War #America #Privacy #OnlineSafety

The UK's War on Anonymity Has Come to America

https://www.effort.news/uk-lobby

Comments: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49251411

#HackerNews #UKAnon #War #America #Privacy #OnlineSafety

Reuters: US court rules Meta, other tech companies must face thousands of lawsuits over social media addiction. “The San Francisco-based 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected the companies’ bid to reverse a lower court’s ruling forcing them to face more than 3,000 lawsuits over the claims filed in federal court, concluding that the appeal came too early in ​the litigation.”

Reuters: US court rules Meta, other tech companies must face thousands of lawsuits over social media addiction. “The San Francisco-based 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected the companies’ bid to reverse a lower court’s ruling forcing them to face more than 3,000 lawsuits over the claims filed in federal court, concluding that the appeal came too early in ​the litigation.”

The Guardian: Rising number of UK children report seeing explicit deepfakes of themselves. “The Report Remove service, which blocks intimate images from appearing online, said there had been a rapid increase in imagery that had been digitally manipulated or ‘faked’ in some way, including with AI and nudification tools. In the first six months of this year it received 420 reports from children […]