Dennis B. Desmond, University of the Sunshine Coast
Australia’s spy agency issued a stark warning to politicians and public servants last week: do not discuss sensitive or classified information in vehicles. Speaking at senate estimates, ASIO Deputy Director-General Lisa Alonso Love said the warning concerned “any vehicle, whether it’s connected or not”. But she added that “connected vehicles” may come with additional risks for data collection. Her advice was that classified conversations should occur only in properly secured locations, not while travelling. The warning came after seven models of Chinese electric vehicles were added to the list of taxpayer-funded cars available to federal politicians, representing 30% of the vehicles now available under the parliamentarian vehicle scheme. But this is not just a problem with electric cars, nor cars manufactured in China. Connected vehicles of any kind come with several privacy and national security risks. What are ‘connected cars’?According to the Australian Signals Directorate, any vehicle that is connected to the internet, either through an embedded SIM card or a paired smartphone, can be considered a connected vehicle. Almost all major cars sold in Australia with “connected services” collect and transmit driver and passenger data to the vehicle manufacturer. A study by consulting firm McKinsey found 50% of cars on the road in 2021 had internet connections and predicted the number will rise to 95% by 2030. Data is collected and stored both on vehicle and offshore. For example, Great Wall Motor’s policy states its data is transmitted to Singapore but is available for analysis in China. What data do these cars collect?Connected vehicles are packed with sensors: in the seats, the dashboard, the engine, the steering wheel. Many also have additional driver-facing cameras plus external cameras. Vehicles can generate 1 to 2 terabytes of raw data per car each day. Manufacturers collect sensor data to measure vehicle performance. However, collected data also includes precise geolocation data, infotainment use, whether you buckle your seatbelt, drive too fast or brake too hard, and whether you are sleepy or drank too much. Some of the data collected, such as real-time location and when the driver and passengers are inside or outside the vehicle, can infer weight, age, race and facial expressions. Vehicles also have access to data from Bluetooth connections to our cellphones. This includes contacts, mapping data, calendar information, habits and hobbies and a myriad of other data sets. Data shared through cellphones can provide even more personal data such as your financial and relationship status. And it isn’t just driver data. The privacy of passengers is also of concern. Sales agreements state the driver is responsible for advising passengers anything they say or do can be collected by the on-platform sensors. It is up to the driver to warn passengers. According to a 2023 report by software company Mozilla, vehicles are the most egregious for collecting personal information and violating privacy norms. Of the 25 vehicles Mozilla reviewed, none passed their privacy review. According to vehicle privacy disclosures reviewed by Mozilla, manufacturers use data for product evaluation and improvement. However, it is also made available for sale to affiliates and data aggregators where it is repackaged and sold. In 2023, Reuters revealed Tesla employees privately shared highly invasive videos and images that had been collected from customers’ cars. The recordings reportedly included people in the nude and others involved in crashes. What can you do to protect yourself?Generally, consumers can choose to opt out of some of the data collection. However, if they refuse the collection, they may not receive all of the vehicle’s full functionality. The following steps can help you stay secure:
Dennis B. Desmond, Lecturer, Cyberintelligence and Cybercrime Investigations, University of the Sunshine Coast This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. |
Are our cars spying on us? A cybersecurity expert explains how to stay safe (2026-06-17T10:58:00+05:30)
Maldives plans social media ban for children under 16 (2026-06-16T11:25:00+05:30)
 Representational Image. (IANS Photo) Male, (IANS): Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu has announced the government will ban children under 16 from accessing certain social media platforms to protect them from cyberbullying, online grooming and other digital threats, a state media outlet reported. Speaking at a weekly press conference on Monday (local time), Muizzu said protecting children from online harm had become a major concern for parents in the Maldives and abroad, reports Xinhua news agency, quoting state media outlet PSM News. The government would study regulations in other countries, including Australia, as it prepares the new policy, he noted. The proposed ban would target specific applications considered risky for children, Muizzu said, adding that the government would consult relevant technology companies and work with platform owners to bring their services in line with Maldivian law. The measure would require amendments to existing cyber safety laws, according to the president. Muizzu said the restrictions would not hinder children's education or their ability to learn online, but would help create a safer digital environment. The government aims to finalise the regulatory framework and introduce the ban within a year after public consultations, PSM News reported. If implemented, the Maldives will follow Australia in banning social media for children under 16 years. Canberra had announced the ban last year. As of January, over 4.7 million accounts belonging to children were deactivated in the first days of Australia's world-first social media ban for under-16s. Data released by the government's eSafety commissioner had revealed that social media companies removed access to around 4.7 million accounts identified as belonging to children under 16 in the days after the ban took effect on December 10. The Australian government is also investigating five social media platforms for failing to comply with the country's world-first social media ban for children younger than 16. In its first report on the social media minimum age obligation, the federal government's eSafety Commissioner said on Tuesday that it has "significant concerns" about the compliance of the social media giants, including Facebook and Instagram, with the laws that came into effect in December.Under those laws, social media companies that fail to take reasonable steps to prevent children younger than 16 from accessing their platforms face fines worth up to 49.5 million Australian dollars ($33.9 million). Maldives plans social media ban for children under 16 | MorungExpress | morungexpress.com |
Kids on social media more than two hours a day at higher risk of mental illness (2026-06-12T12:22:00+05:30)
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Nandi Vijayakumar, Deakin University; Susan M. Sawyer, The University of Melbourne, and Sylvia C. Lin, Deakin University; Murdoch Children's Research Institute As the United Kingdom and other countries make moves to follow Australia’s lead in restricting access to social media for under 16s, there is still much we don’t know about how the technology impacts young people’s mental health over time. For example, does using social media for a certain amount of hours each day lead to increased harm? Are younger adolescents more vulnerable than older ones? Is there any difference between boys and girls? Our new study, published today in the Medical Journal of Australia, provides some important answers to these questions. It found clear risks from heavier social media use on young people’s mental health. Alongside this, we also undertook a recent poll of Australian parents about efforts to restrict access to social media for young people. The findings suggests the law is changing parents’ views and practices around their children’s social media use. A debate over ageWhen Australia restricted access to social media for young people under 16 last December, there was considerable debate about whether 16 was the appropriate age threshold. There were a number of longitudinal studies that examined associations between adolescent social media use and mental health. But very few had systematically investigated whether risks of social media use differed across age during adolescence. One large 2022 study from the UK found that increases in adolescents’ social media use over time were associated with lower life satisfaction during specific age periods – 11 to 13 years of age for girls and 14 to 15 years of age for boys. It focused on life satisfaction and did not assess symptoms of mental health. Digging deeperOur new study aimed to dig deeper into these trends. We used data from 1,195 students in Melbourne whom researchers have followed annually from 12 to 18 years of age. We examined whether their social media use was related to later mental health problems, and statistically accounted for a range of individual and family factors that are known to influence both social media use and mental health. Therefore, we were able to reduce alternative explanations and strengthen confidence in our findings – even though we couldn’t prove causation. We found that adolescents who spent more than two hours per day on social media had a higher risk of developing mental health problems one year later, compared with those using social media for less than one hour per day. The mental health problems included elevated symptoms of depression and poor wellbeing. Importantly, the risks of social media use were not evenly experienced across adolescence. The strongest effects consistently emerged in adolescents aged 12 to 13 for both girls and boys. The estimated risk for symptoms of depression and anxiety, as well as poor wellbeing and self-harm, was roughly twice as large compared with adolescents aged 14 to 16 and those aged 17 to 18. Overall, the estimated size of effects was modest. But in girls aged 12 to 13, more than two hours of daily social media use was associated with around 11 additional cases of high depressive symptoms per 100 adolescents. Even small effects can become meaningful at a population level when large numbers of young people are spending more than two hours a day on social media. Age-based restrictions alone aren’t enoughOur study cannot determine a precise age at which social media becomes “safe”. Nor should a single study inform national legislation on age-based restrictions. However, combined with other research, our study suggests that younger adolescents are particularly vulnerable to the potential harms of social media, with the strongest effects emerging during early adolescence. As a result, we expect that Australia’s social media law will have the greatest impact on the mental health of younger adolescents. But further research is needed to confirm this. However, age-based restrictions alone are unlikely to eliminate all risks associated with adolescent social media use. We found evidence that some risks for mental health problems – namely elevated symptoms of depression – persisted for young people up to 18 years of age. This highlights the need for continued supports for older adolescents. This includes holding social media platforms accountable for algorithms and features that promote compulsive engagement and exposure to harmful content. One way to achieve this is through Australia’s proposed digital duty of care reform. It also involves improving education on digital literacy and safety at schools and supporting parents to help young people develop healthier online habits. Changing the normWe also recently undertook a poll of more than 2,000 parents of 0- to 17-year-olds about the law restricting access to social media in Australia. The survey found that 59% of parents felt the law supported them to set rules around social media use. Also, 39% of parents reported that the law has changed their view on when children should first have their social media accounts, with 16 years being the most commonly endorsed age (38%). These findings, which are yet to be published, demonstrate that public health policies can influence what is considered appropriate or expected behaviour. While evidence on the impacts of Australia’s social media law is still emerging, it has already influenced global discussions on adolescent social media use. Debates about age-based social media restrictions are now occurring in many countries. And the conversation is increasingly shifting from whether social media affects young people’s mental health to when young people may be most vulnerable and how we as a society should respond. Nandi Vijayakumar, Research Fellow, School of Psychology, Deakin University; Susan M. Sawyer, Professor of Adolescent Health The University of Melbourne; Director, Royal Children's Hospital Centre for Adolescent Health; and Murdoch Children's Research Institute, The University of Melbourne, and Sylvia C. Lin, Postdoctoral research fellow, Deakin University; Murdoch Children's Research Institute This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. |
New cyber centre opens in UK (2026-04-16T11:48:00+05:30)
 (Image: NDA)The UK's Nuclear Decommissioning Authority group has launched a specialised cyber facility in Cumbria to accelerate collaboration across nuclear operators and the supply chain, on the adoption of innovative technologies such as AI and robotics and enhancing their collective ability to successfully defend against cyber threats. It said the Group Cyberspace Collaboration Centre (GCCC) provides a space for experts in cyber, digital and engineering to come together and share knowledge and learning on how best to adopt new technologies and defend against evolving threats. Representatives from government, the nuclear sector, regulators and the supply chain attended the official opening which showcased the capability of the centre. The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) said the GCCC was a multi-functional space for partners to explore how new technologies can support mission delivery and facilitate security operations, cyber exercising and training. "The GCCC is further enhancing our collective ability to keep us safe, secure, resilient and sustainable in cyberspace," said NDA Group CEO David Peattie. "Enabling us to work together more closely means we can defend as one, benefitting the collective security of the individual organisations we serve. "When it comes to security, we are never complacent, and we continually invest in our expertise and our technology to further strengthen our capability."  (Image: NDA) The NDA group - which includes Sellafield, Nuclear Restoration Services, Nuclear Waste Services and Nuclear Transport Solutions - has invested in group-wide cyber services and capabilities to ensure systems are better protected and more resilient and delivering a strong, consistent approach to common cyber security threats. The GCCC is part of the group's growing portfolio of digital and cyber capability including a joint Cyber Security Operations facility, which opened in Warrington in August. It is part of a constellation of related leading cyber and digital capabilities, including the Cyber Lab classroom at Energus, the Sellafield Engineering Centre of Excellence, and the Robotics and AI Collaboration centre (RAICo1). Warren Cain, Superintending Inspector at the Office for Nuclear Regulation, said: "All nuclear sites must have strong cyber security systems in place to protect important information and assets from cyber threats. Cyber security is a key regulatory priority for the Office for Nuclear Regulation, and we welcome the NDA's commitment to strengthen their cyber defences with this new specialist facility." New cyber centre opens in UK |
S. Korea becomes 1st nation to enact comprehensive law on safe AI usage (2026-02-20T12:23:00+05:30)
 IANS Photo Seoul, (IANS): South Korea on Thursday formally enacted a comprehensive law governing the safe use of artificial intelligence (AI) models, becoming the first country globally in doing so, establishing a regulatory framework against misinformation and other hazardous effects involving the emerging field. The Basic Act on the Development of Artificial Intelligence and the Establishment of a Foundation for Trustworthiness, or the AI Basic Act, officially took effect Thursday, according to the science ministry, reports Yonhap news agency. It marked the first governmental adoption of comprehensive guidelines on the use of AI globally. The act centres on requiring companies and AI developers to take greater responsibility for addressing deepfake content and misinformation that can be generated by AI models, granting the government the authority to impose fines or launch probes into violations. In detail, the act introduces the concept of "high-risk AI," referring to AI models used to generate content that can significantly affect users' daily lives or their safety, including applications in the employment process, loan reviews and medical advice. Entities harnessing such high-risk AI models are required to inform users that their services are based on AI and are responsible for ensuring safety. Content generated by AI models is required to carry watermarks indicating its AI-generated nature. "Applying watermarks to AI-generated content is the minimum safeguard to prevent side effects from the abuse of AI technology, such as deepfake content," a ministry official said. Global companies offering AI services in South Korea meeting any of the following criteria -- global annual revenue of 1 trillion won ($681 million) or more, domestic sales of 10 billion won or higher, or at least 1 million daily users in the country -- are required to designate a local representative. Currently, OpenAI and Google fall under the criteria. Violations of the act may be subject to fines of up to 30 million won, and the government plans to enforce a one-year grace period in imposing penalties to help the private sector adjust to the new rules.The act also includes measures for the government to promote the AI industry, with the science minister required to present a policy blueprint every three years. S. Korea becomes 1st nation to enact comprehensive law on safe AI usage | MorungExpress | morungexpress.com |
How to maintain authentic friendships in the social media world? (2026-01-30T13:22:00+05:30)
 IANS Photo New Delhi, (IANSlife) Building a friendship is no less than forming any kind of relationship. While many meet soulmates through friends, there are also people out there who struggle to find genuine friends. Especially in the world of social media, in many instances we come across the 'friends for benefits' kind of relationship. Not everyone that comes into our life has good intentions, but hey! it is also how we turn the table. This Friendship Day, let’s find out how your favourite personalities from the internet are dealing on maintaining authentic friendships in the social media world. Palak Rathi, Gen Z Finance Content Creator, "Do you know what’s the best thing about social media? Accessibility. Accessibility to literally anyone and everyone. It’s up to us how we use that accessibility - to just network or to actually build meaningful relationships beyond networking. Don’t connect with people only when you need a favour or there’s some work to be discussed but rather keep talking to them once in a while, check on them, appreciate them, celebrate their small victories by maybe reacting to a story or sending them a sweet message or calling them up to congratulate them. While staying connected online is great, whenever and wherever possible - try to meet them in person. Make efforts. Look and build real friendships. And most importantly - stay genuine and don’t try to be someone who you’re not. Because only then you’ll be able to find people who you can really connect with on a deeper level rather than just likes and comments on the surface level. Talk about your interests, your likings, your struggles (trauma bonding is a thing, haha), your goals - just be yourself and you’ll be surprised to see how it will lead to the start of some extremely meaningful conversations and lifelong friendships. Engage with people whose interests align with you or should I say whose “vibe” matches with you. That will help you make friends and not just connections." Adete Dahiya, Gen Z Lifestyle Content Creator, "Whenever we talk about the impact of social media, romantic relationships often take precedence over anything else. But its impact on friendships and other interpersonal relationships is even more profound. Social media has made it so easy to stay in touch with friends and make new ones online - you can just like their photos on Instagram or react with an emoji to their stories, or just drop a short comment on their latest post and you’re done. But the flip side is that it has made it much harder to maintain meaningful connections and bonds. A few things you can do to counteract this is to schedule regular call times with your friends. It is essential to check in, speak to them face to face and get a deeper understanding of what is happening in each others’ lives. If you live in the same city, make it a priority to meet weekly. The key is not to become lazy because of social media but to use it to deepen your connection." Reshi Magada, Gen Z Finance Content Creator, "Maintaining meaningful friendships as a Gen Z individual navigating the social media environment needs a balance of virtual relationships and in-person connections. To begin, I value honest communication by being open about my views, feelings, and experiences. Sharing both highs and lows helps friends understand each other better. Second, I try to engage in real conversations that go beyond likes and comments. I send individual notes, check about their well-being, and show real interest in their life. In this way, I display that I value and care for my friends. Third, I maintain digital boundaries. To keep my friendships from being superficial, I restrict my screen time and prevent idle scrolling. Instead, I invest in face-to-face interactions and meaningful time spent together, which strengthens the bond. Finally, keep in mind that social media is a highlight reel, and comparison may stunt true friendships. I create a healthy climate for genuine friendships to grow by appreciating my friends' wins without feeling envious. Through these methods, I am able to form and retain genuine friendships in the ever-changing social media world." Caslynn Qusay Naha, Gen Z Finance Content Creator, "Maintaining authentic friendships in the social media world is crucial as we navigate the digital age. It's essential to remember that the principles that apply to real-life friendships can also be applied to our online connections. First and foremost, authenticity is key. Just like in face-to-face interactions, being genuine and true to yourself fosters trust and openness. Share your thoughts, feelings, and experiences honestly, and encourage your friends to do the same. Taking the time to actively communicate and stay connected with your friends is vital. Initiate conversations, respond to messages, and participate in online discussions. By showing interest in their lives and making an effort to stay connected, you demonstrate that you value friendship. Remember, it's not about the number of friends you have, but the quality of the relationships you build. Be present for your friends, celebrate their successes, offer support in their struggles, and be a positive influence in their lives. So, maintaining authentic friendships in the social media world is all about being genuine, avoiding comparison, actively communicating, and valuing the quality of your connections over quantity." |
How ‘digital twins’ could help prevent cyber-attacks on the food industry (2025-12-23T11:38:00+05:30)
Sabah Suhail, Queen's University Belfast and Salil S. Kanhere, UNSW SydneyEarlier this year, a cyberattack on British retailer Marks & Spencer caused widespread disruption across its operations. Stock shortages, delayed deliveries, and logistical chaos rippled through the retailer’s network. In 2025 alone, several other UK food businesses, including Harrods and Co-op, have been targeted by cyber-attacks. The food sector is highly dependent on different links in a chain. This makes it an appealing target for hackers, because a single weak link can compromise an entire supply chain. Because of the essential role of food for public health and safety – and its importance to the economy – it is regarded as critical national infrastructure. So how can the UK’s vital food sector be made more resilient to cyber-attacks? One possible way is to use what’s called a “digital twin”. A digital twin is a virtual replica of any product, process, or service, capturing its state, characteristics, and connections with other systems throughout its life cycle. The digital twin will include the computer system used by the company. It can help because conventional defences are increasingly out of step with cyber-attacks. Monitoring tools tend to detect anomalies after damage occurs. Complex computer systems can often obscure the origins of breaches. A digital twin creates a bridge between the physical and digital worlds. It allows organisations to simulate real-time events, predict what might happen next, and safely test potential responses. It can also help analyse what happened after a cyber-attack to help companies prepare for future incidents. For companies in the food sector, becoming resilient to cyber-attacks involves the ability to detect suspicious activity early, and keep operations running, even under attack. This will ultimately protect food quality and consumer trust. Simulating an attackLet’s focus on the example of a strawberry packhouse, where strawberries are sorted, cooled, and packed for distribution. Due to strawberries spoiling easily, controlling the temperature and humidity in these areas is essential to ensuring a high quality product. Sensors and HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) systems maintain these conditions to keep the fruit fresh from the field to the shelf. But what happens if the HVAC system gets hacked, perhaps through weak passwords or software that isn’t regularly updated to account for new computer security vulnerabilities. Temperatures could rise unnoticed, causing spoilage before the fruit even reaches the supermarket. The results: food waste, lost revenue, delayed deliveries, and reputational harm. A single breach can reverberate through the chain, leading to wasted produce and empty shelves. A digital twin might be able to avert disaster under this scenario. By combining operational data such as temperature, humidity, or the speed air of flow with internal computing system data or intrusion attempts, digital twins offer a unified view of both system performance and cybersecurity. They enable organisations to simulate cyber-attacks or equipment failures in a safe, controlled digital environment, revealing vulnerabilities before attackers can exploit them. A digital twin can also detect abnormal temperature patterns, monitor the system for malicious activity, and perform analysis after a cyber-attack to identify the causes. Over time, these insights can enable the strawberry packhouse, in our example, and by extension the broader supply chain, to strengthen its defences against hackers and reduce the future risk of a cyber-attack. As cyber-threats become more sophisticated, the question is no longer whether the food sector will be targeted again, but whether it will be ready when further attacks inevitably happen. Digital twins cannot prevent every cyber-attack, but by turning uncertainty into foresight, they give the food sector a fighting chance to stay safe, sustainable, and secure. Sabah Suhail, Research Fellow, School of Electronics, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Queen's University Belfast and Salil S. Kanhere, Professor at the School of Computer Science and Engineering, UNSW Sydney This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. |
Screenagers face troubling addictions from an early age (2025-12-12T11:27:00+05:30)
 Early exposure can lead to addiction. Brit., CC BY-NC-ND
Joseph Attard, King's College London and Mark Griffiths, Nottingham Trent UniversityIn 1997, Douglas Rushkoff boldly predicted the emergence a new caste of tech-literate adolescents. He argued that the children of his day would soon blossom into “screenagers”, endowed with effortless advantages over their parents, having been raised from birth on a diet of computers and micro-chipped devices. Fast-forward to 2014: the screenagers have come of age in a world ruled by Twitter and Candy Crush Saga. A substantial body of evidence addresses the ways in which media saturation shapes the identities of children and adolescents. While there are clear benefits to maturing as a digital native, a number of experts are concerned about the physical and psychological health of our screenagers. The perils of media-immersionThere are advantages of tech-literacy from an early age such as gaining IT skills that will serve you well in the future but there are risks too. Aside from the dangers of social isolation and physical inactivity, there are also dangers that come not directly from any IT medium itself, but what happens when children are exposed to them. The ability to access pornography or gamble online throws up all kinds of issues when children are involved. Particularly insidious are “foot-in-the-door” products which, combined with big data marketing techniques, specifically target adolescents and stimulate pathological behaviour. For example, a number of free Facebook games, including Zynga Poker and Slotomania, normalise gambling and divorce the thrill of playing from the consequences of losing. The player gets to experience the highs of winning but because there is no money involved, they don’t suffer any real life consequences when they lose. This poses a major risk and could lead to problem gambling in adolescence. Other freemium app and internet games also carry a risk factor for pathological behaviour. So-called “casual games” such as Flappy Bird, Bejeweled and Candy Crush Saga use behavioural conditioning techniques to keep players invested for long stretches, which may inhibit the social development of youngsters. And even if we don’t buy into the moral panic so often spread by the media, there is evidence to suggest that sustained access to pornography can have detrimental effects on young people. Mental health website Psych Central reports that not only is pornography easy to stumble across online (with search terms like “toy” often throwing up adult images) repeated exposure can be over-stimulating and potentially addictive for young people. According to the site, “Cybersex addiction functions in a similar way to any other addiction, leading to a cycle of preoccupation, compulsion, acting out, isolation, self-absorption, shame and depression as well as distorted views of real relationships and intimacy.” Most susceptible to compulsive porn viewing are teens with limited parental support, which also correlates with unsupervised web access. New addictionsWhile the addictiveness of certain activities is reasonably well established, the more general concept of “media addiction” in young people is harder to pin down. For a start, it isn’t easy to define addiction as it applies to any activity, even traditional problems such as gambling. So when it comes to new technologies and services, the picture becomes more confused. It is tempting to discuss “media addiction” as a catch-all term for spending too much time online but there are so many opportunities for digital natives to engage in harmful activities that we ought to think in more detail about the problems that can arise for them. While we might group people together as “Facebook addicts”, for example, there may well be a big difference between someone who spends an unhealthy amount of time growing virtual tomatoes on Farmville and another who might be pathologically engrossed in instant messaging. Starting youngThese phenomena are disconcerting enough on their own but we also need to address the fact that for today’s youngsters, the process of media immersion often begins in very early childhood. Last year, campaign group Common Sense Media and electronics company VTech carried out a survey of 1,463 parents with children aged under eight in the US and found 75% had access to smart devices. This was up from 52% in 2011. This suggests that by the time they hit their teens, there is a high probability that young children will be active participants in global information networks. Whereas children of the 1990s were raised on a diet of discontinuous digital media (MTV and 16-bit gaming), the next wave of screenagers will hold multiple social media accounts, exposing them to all the hazards this level of connectivity implies. From underage users viewing gambling as a source of wealth to adolescents whose formative sexuality is filtered through internet porn, the influence of media-immersion on developing minds is disquieting. One can only imagine the mental state of young people when a universe of information, temptations and perils can be carried around in their pocket. While it’s obvious that internet-use carries huge advantages for young people, they also need to be educated about the dangers before addictions develop. Joseph Attard, Film Studies PhD Researcher, King's College London and Mark Griffiths, Director of the International Gaming Research Unit and Professor of Gambling Studies, Nottingham Trent University This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. |
Australia’s social media ban is now in force. Other countries are closely watching what happens (2025-12-11T10:50:00+05:30)
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After months of anticipation and debate, Australia’s social media ban is now in force. Young Australians under 16 must now come to grips with the new reality of being unable to have an account on some social media platforms, including Instagram, TikTok and Facebook. Only time will tell whether this bold, world-first experiment will succeed. Despite this, many countries are already considering following Australia’s lead. But there are other jurisdictions that are taking a different approach to try and keep young people safe online. Here’s what’s happening overseas. A global movementIn November, the European parliament called for a similar social media ban for under 16s. The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, said she has been studying Australia’s restrictions and how they address what she described as “algorithms that prey on children’s vulnerabilities”, leaving parents feeling powerless against “the tsunami of big tech flooding their homes”. In October, New Zealand announced it would introduce similar legislation to Australia’s, following the work of a parliamentary committee to examine how best to address harm on social media platforms. The committee’s report will be released in early 2026. Pakistan and India are aiming to reduce children’s exposure to harmful content by introducing rules requiring parental consent and age verification for platform access, alongside content moderation expectations for tech companies. Malaysia has announced it will ban children under 16 from social media starting in 2026. This follows the country requiring social media and messaging platforms with eight million or more users to obtain licenses to operate, and use age verification and content-safety measures from January 2025. France is also considering a social media ban for children under 15 and a 10pm to 8am curfew for platform use for 15- to 18-year-olds. These are among 43 recommendations made by a French inquiry in September 2025, which also recommended banning smartphones in schools, and implementing a crime of “digital negligence for parents who fail to protect their children”. While France introduced a requirement in 2023 that platforms obtain parental consent for children under 15 to create social media accounts, it has yet to be enforced. This is also the case in Germany. There, children aged between 13 and 16 can only access platforms with parental consent, but without formal checks in place. And, in Spain, the minimum age for social media accounts will rise from 14 to 16, unless parents provide consent. Norway announced plans in July to restrict access to social media for under 15s. The government explained the law would be “designed in accordance with children’s fundamental rights, including freedom of expression, access to information, and the right to association”. In November, Denmark announced it would “ban access to social media for anyone under 15”. However, unlike Australia’s legislation, parents can override the rules to enable 13- and 14-year-olds to retain platform access. Yet there is no date for implementation, with lawmakers expected to take months to pass the legislation. It’s also unclear how Denmark’s ban will be enforced. But the country does have a national digital ID program that may be used. In July, Denmark was named as part of a pilot program (with Greece, France, Spain, and Italy) to trial an age verification app that could be launched across the European Union for use by adult content sites and other digital providers. Some pushbackThe implementation of similar restrictions is not being taken up everywhere. For example, South Korea has decided against a social media ban for children. But it will ban the use of mobile phones and other devices in classrooms starting in March 2026. In the city of Toyoake (south-west of Tokyo, Japan), a very different solution has been proposed. The city’s mayor, Masafumi Koki, issued an ordinance in October, limiting the use of smartphones, tablets, and computers to two hours per day for people of all ages. Koki is aware of Australia’s social media restrictions. But as he explained:
While the ordinance has faced backlash, and is non-binding, it prompted 40% of residents to reflect on their behaviour, with 10% reducing their time on smartphones. In the United States, the opposition to Australia’s social media restrictions has been extremely vocal and significant. American media and technology companies have urged President Donald Trump to “reprimand” Australia over its legislation. They argue American companies are being unfairly targeted and have lodged formal complaints with the Office of US Trade. President Trump has stated he would stand up to any countries that “attacked” American technology companies. The US recently called eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman-Grant to testify in front of Congress. US Republican Jim Jordan claimed her enforcement of Australia’s Online Safety Act “imposes obligations on American companies and threatens speech of American citizens”, which Inman-Grant strongly denied. The world will keep watchingWhile much of the world seems united in concern about the harmful content and algorithmic features children experience on social media, only one thing is clear – there is no silver bullet for addressing these harms. There is no agreed set of restrictions, or specific age at which legislators agree children should have unrestricted access to these platforms. Many countries outside Australia are empowering parents to provide access, if they believe it is right for their children. And many countries are considering how best to enforce restrictions, if they implement similar rules. As experts point to the technical challenges in enforcing Australia’s restrictions, and as young Australians consider workarounds to maintain their accounts or find new platforms to use, other countries will continue to watch and plan their next moves. Lisa M. Given, Professor of Information Sciences & Director, Social Change Enabling Impact Platform, RMIT University This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. |
Cybersecurity experts call for AI-driven defence (2025-12-03T12:50:00+05:30)
 GUWAHATI, (MExN): Citing growing instances of cyber attacks from “non-friendly countries,” cybersecurity experts called for a resilient AI-driven defence mechanism and investigation process, alongside greater public awareness. At a national conference, experts highlighted that IT system constraints, too many disconnected threads, and limited remote capabilities were holding back investigations, which could be fast-tracked with the adoption of proper AI tools and skilling of users. The conference on 'Cybersecurity, Digital Forensics and Intelligence' was organised by the National Institute of Electronics and Information Technology (NIELIT) at Gauhati University. Citing alarming data, Keshri Kumar Asthana, Head of Public Sector at Microsoft, said, “India lost Rs 22,845 crore to cyber fraud in 2024, a 205.6 per cent surge from the previous year.” He stated that over 36 lakh financial fraud cases were reported during the year, and around 20.5 lakh cybersecurity incidents were reported to CERT-In in 2024, up from 15.9 lakh in 2023. Asthana added that the average cost of a data breach in India in 2025 is Rs 22 crore, the highest on record, driven by gaps in governance and security. “Around 83 per cent of organizations experience more than one data breach in their lifetime. The cost is high as the incidents are being caught late,” he said. He emphasised that defenders must adopt a “graphical thinking” approach to counter attackers who already use such methods. Sandesh Jadhav, Global Data Privacy Officer of Wipro, cautioned people to be vigilant while using social media and digital platforms, warning, “You are being watched continuously.” Shreekrishna Ashutosh of Cellebrite pointed to operational challenges, noting that 50 per cent of agencies report case backlogs yearly, and 60 per cent of investigators still rely on outdated methods. “The average time spent per case reviewing digital evidence is 69 hours,” he said. Asthana underscored the critical role of digital evidence, stating, “90 per cent of criminal cases include digital evidence and 98 per cent of prosecutors say it is pivotal. Digital evidence is no longer optional but essential.” The two-day event is being organised by NIELIT Assam & Nagaland under the Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY), in association with Assam Police and Gauhati University. The conference is being held under the theme “Cyber Secure Bharat: Fortifying India’s Digital Future.” Delivering the welcome address, L Lanuwabang, Director of NIELIT Assam & Nagaland and Conference Chair, highlighted the expansion of the conference to Guwahati to ensure wider participation across the North-East. He emphasised the need for advanced cyber training, digital forensic laboratory infrastructure, coordinated cyber investigations, and multi-agency collaboration. “Cyber Secure Bharat is not merely a theme; it is a national mission. A secure India is the foundation of a strong digital future,” Lanuwabang remarked. The inaugural ceremony was attended by K S Gopinath Narayan, Principal Secretary, IT, Government of Assam; Prof Nani Gopal Mahanta, Vice Chancellor, Gauhati University; and Surendra Kumar, Additional Director General of Police, Assam, among others. This year's conference features over 30 speakers from industry, defence, law enforcement, and academia, with more than 300 delegates in attendance.The inaugural programme concluded with a vote of thanks delivered by Santanu Borgohain, Additional Director, NIELIT Guwahati. The second day will feature technical sessions and panel discussions on emerging threats and cybercrime trends. Cybersecurity experts call for AI-driven defence | MorungExpress | morungexpress.com |
Social media age restrictions may go further than you thought. Here’s how (2025-09-29T11:07:00+05:30)
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Australia’s eSafety Commissioner, Julie Inman Grant, today outlined an updated list of platforms that may fall under the social media age restrictions that will take effect later this year. While Australians expected platforms such as Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube to be included, this new list demonstrates the legislation’s reach is even broader. Which platforms will be required to restrict access for under 16s?When the legislation was first introduced, the government explained it would use the definition of social media outlined in Australia’s Social Media Services Online Safety Code. The law, which comes into effect on December 10, will restrict people under 16 from holding accounts on many social media platforms. Recently, the eSafety Commissioner introduced self-assessment guidance for companies to determine whether their platforms would be considered age-restricted. Under this guidance, companies will be required to restrict access to platform accounts for users under 16 where:
The eSafety Commissioner has written to an “initial list” of 16 companies (including Facebook, TikTok and YouTube) advising they may fall under the social media definition that requires age restrictions. The list also named messaging and gaming platforms WhatsApp, Discord and Twitch, alongside software sharing platform GitHub, dating app company Match (which owns Tinder), message board Reddit and image-sharing platform Pinterest, among others. What does this mean for platforms designed to engage children?Lego Play and Roblox were also included. These platforms host games and creative tools used by many children under 16. Earlier this month, Roblox (which has more than 380 million users globally) committed to new safety measures to address risks posed by online grooming. The new measures include making children’s accounts private by default and ensuring adults are prevented from engaging with child users without parental consent. However, Roblox has now been flagged as likely to meet the definition of an age-restricted platform. It may need to block children under 16 from having accounts. Will some platforms be excluded from age restrictions?The self-assessment guidance also outlines specific circumstances in which social media platforms can be excluded from the restrictions. Under the legislation, services are excluded where the sole or primary purpose is to enable:
These exclusions require self-assessment by individual platforms. This is why the eSafety Commissioner has asked companies to make their case, in writing, and provide evidence as to why they believe they should be exempt. WhatsApp, for example, may argue its primary purpose is communication by messaging. Lego Play may argue it is mainly an educational tool. Companies will only have a few weeks to make their case for exclusion before the restrictions are in place. What happens next?In the coming weeks, we will learn more about which platforms will be included – and excluded – from age restrictions. But today’s list is only a start. There will likely be others identified through the self-assessment process. What’s not yet clear is what happens when there is conflict over a platform’s self-assessment. The eSafety Commissioner has flagged she is already “bracing for legal challenges” on this point. She explained the focus will first be on platforms with the greatest number of users and, therefore, the highest potential for harm. So Australians may have some clarity about which platforms fall under – or outside – the legislation on December 10. However, some uncertainty is likely to continue well into 2026. Lisa M. Given, Professor of Information Sciences & Director, Social Change Enabling Impact Platform, RMIT University This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. |
