Wednesday, May 20Wednesday, May 20The European Union is intensifying scrutiny of social media platforms, including Instagram, over concerns about addictive design features that may harm minors. EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced an investigation into platforms like TikTok and Instagram, citing their role in enabling children to "go down rabbit holes of harmful content." The EU could introduce stricter regulations on minors' social media use as early as this summer, aiming to curb addictive elements such as infinite scroll and personalized feeds, which experts argue are designed to drive compulsive use .
Age verification measures are also gaining traction, with over 25 states and multiple countries enacting laws requiring websites—including social media platforms—to verify users' ages to restrict minors' access. These policies, while aimed at protecting children, have raised concerns about privacy and rights, as they may require users to upload government-issued identification for activities like browsing or joining online groups . In Estonia, age verification is becoming more stringent, with mandatory identity checks in the state app for government agencies starting in 2028, though this currently applies to a limited number of organizations . Additionally, age verification has extended to retail settings, such as the sale of energy drinks, where customers may face ID checks to confirm they are over 16 .
EU guarantees easier data transfers from iPhone to Android The European Digital Markets Act (DMA) imposes obligations on tech giants, who are currently working on new features
eunews.it · 8 days ago
Pity the poor billionaires – demands for higher taxes must feel hurtful | Arwa Mahdawi No wonder they are upset by the slogan tax the rich. Despite their wealth increasing 81 since 2020, they need our emotional support now more than everWont anyone think of the poor, poor, billionaires? Their endless money can buy them political power, but it cant buy them love. Instead of being worshipped by the hoi polloi, titans of industry are denounced! Despised! Disrespected! Insert another D-word of your own!Thankfully, class solidarity is strong among the super-rich. Steve Roth bravely brought attention to the plight of his fellow billionaires during a recent earnings call. I consider the phrase tax the rich … spit out with anger and contempt by politicians … to be just as hateful as some disgusting racial slurs, the Vornado Realty Trust CEO said. Continue reading...
theguardian · 8 days ago
Children must be told theyre adopted in Estonias new Family Law Act A draft Family Law Act would require adoptive families to inform children of their adoption and would grant children the right to obtain information about their biological parents without the latters consent.
news.err · 8 days ago
Police call for update of law on face coverings at demonstrations Concealing ones identity at a protest is not conducive to safety; the law must be revised, Deputy National Police Commissioner Sanna Heikinheimo said in a blog post.
yle.fi · 8 days ago
Is social media addictive by design and can you beat the algorithm? Social media features such as infinite scroll and personalised feeds can drive compulsive use. Experts argue that Big Tech should change its business models for meaningful change.
euronews · 8 days ago
More drivers opting for repairs over new cars As prices and fees make new cars less affordable, drivers in Estonia are increasingly choosing to invest more on repairs instead, industry experts say.
news.err · 8 days ago
EUs Von der Leyen Floats Tighter Restrictions for Minors Social Media Use The European Union could present new rules to tighten restrictions on minors use of social media platforms this summer.
wsj · 8 days ago
Upload government papers to go online? Thats our terrifying future | Aliya Bhatia Demands to upload documents for the purpose of age verification is coming to platforms near youWant to Google your symptoms, join an ICE watch group on Facebook or scroll Reddit? You might need to show ID. Age verification is coming to platforms near you. Worse, itll come at the expense of your rights.More than 25 states, and multiple countries, have enacted laws requiring mixed-audience websites to verify users ages to prevent access by children. Some of these laws target adult content providers explicitly while others apply these requirements to a wide array of websites, from Google search to Coursera to the New York Times.Aliya Bhatia is a senior policy analyst at the Center for Democracy & Technologys Free Expression Project. She conducts research and policy advocacy on issues related to online protection of minors and multilingual AI Continue reading...
theguardian · 8 days ago
Identity verification in Estonias state app to become mandatory for agencies in 2028 It will be mandatory for Estonian government agencies to support identity verification in the state app, which only a few organizations currently recognize, starting in 2028, the State Information System Authority said.
news.err · 9 days ago
I gave up coffee and acquired a Pro Plus habit – now I have the energy of a 15-year-old | Zoe Williams With my usual espressos off the menu, I was looking at a future of sluggishness and headaches. Then I embraced an alternative caffeine delivery systemFor reasons purely related to vanity, Ive had to give up coffee. Its not for ever, unless it takes me for ever to get my teeth whitened, so Im not minded to wean myself off caffeine entirely. But its not for a short enough time that I can simply stop whining and weather the low-level headache, the mental sluggishness and the frankly unbearable taste of water.No problem, I thought: I will survive on energy drinks. Whats embarrassing about that? What could possibly be shameful about going into a Tesco, picking up a black and neon green can of Monster Energy, its name in a satanic font, at 8.05am? What could conceivably make anyone give me the fish eye, that Im setting off the age-verification flashing light, and a dude is having to come over and attest that I am indeed over 16? All of that social opprobrium was before Id even opened an energy drink and had to taste it. Continue reading...
theguardian · 9 days ago
Estonia targets 2027 smartphone updates for new emergency alert system Estonia is one step closer to rolling out a new cell broadcast smartphone emergency alert system next year, part of a broader overhaul of the countrys public warning system.
news.err · 9 days ago
EU to crack down on TikTok, Instagrams addictive design targeting kids on social media We are investigating platforms that allow children to go down rabbit holes of harmful content, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Tuesday.
cnbc · 9 days ago