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Indian Express
21 hours ago
- Business
- Indian Express
YouTube joins list of platforms banned for children under 16 in Australia
After TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, X and Snapchat, YouTube has now joined the list of online platforms included in Australia's social media ban for children under the age of 16, BBC reported. YouTube was earlier excluded from the ban, citing the benefits and values it offers to younger Australians. The move comes a month after Australia's internet regulator urged the government to reverse a planned exemption for the video-sharing platform from its world's first national teen social media ban, Reuters noted. Australia is set to put curbs on social media usage of a million teens, beginning this December. It announced the ban initially in November last year by introducing the new Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Bill 2024, which puts the onus on social media companies to prevent children from accessing their platforms. What does the ban on YouTube entail? Teenagers will still be able to view YouTube videos but will not be permitted to have an account, that is required for uploading content or interacting on the platform, according to BBC. Under the ban, the social media platforms, now including YouTube, will need to deactivate existing accounts and prohibit any new accounts, as well as stopping any workarounds and correcting errors, the report underlined. The government, currently awaiting a report on tests of age-checking products, said those results will influence enforcement of the ban, Reuters mentioned. Chief information security officer at cyber security firm Arctic Wolf, Adam Marre, welcoming the Australian government's move said that artificial intelligence has supercharged the spread of misinformation on social media platforms such as YouTube. 'The Australian government's move to regulate YouTube is an important step in pushing back against the unchecked power of big tech and protecting kids,' he wrote over an email. Feud between YouTube and Australia government? The government last year, at the time of introducing the Online Safety Amendment Bill, said that it would exempt YouTube due to its popularity with teachers, as per the report. However, social media platforms Meta, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok, complained. Australia's internet regulator last month urged the government to overturn the exemption on YouTube, citing a survey that found 37 per cent of minors consuming harmful content on the site, in the worst demonstration for a social media platform, Reuters reported. The country's eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant then recommended YouTube be added to the ban as it was 'the most frequently cited platform' where children aged 10 to 15 years saw 'harmful content'. She said social media companies deployed 'persuasive design features' such as recommendation-based algorithms and notifications to keep users online and 'YouTube has mastered those, opaque algorithms driving users down rabbit holes they're powerless to fight against', Reuters quoted. YouTube, over a blog post, accused Grant of giving inconsistent and contradictory advice, discounting the government's own research which found 69 per cent of parents considering the video platform suitable for those under 15, according to the report. 'The eSafety commissioner chose to ignore this data, the decision of the Australian Government and other clear evidence from teachers and parents that YouTube is suitable for younger users,' the report quoted Rachel Lord, YouTube's public policy manager for Australia and New Zealand. Last week, YouTube had told Reuters it had written to the government urging it 'to uphold the integrity of the legislative process'. YouTube also threatened a court challenge, as quoted by local media, however, YouTube has not confirmed the same. What has YouTube stated? In a statement on Wednesday, YouTube, a tech company owned by Google, argued against the ban, saying that the platform 'offers benefit and value to younger Australians.' YouTube also highlighted that its platform is used by nearly three-quarters of Australians aged 13 to 15, and should not be classified as social media, considering its main activity is hosting videos. 'Our position remains clear: YouTube is a video sharing platform with a library of free, high-quality content, increasingly viewed on TV screens. It's not social media,' a YouTube spokesperson stated over an email. The spokesperson also stated YouTube will 'consider next steps' and 'continue to engage' with the government. Why has the ban been introduced? Speaking to the media today, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said, 'Social media is doing social harm to our children, and I want Australian parents to know that we have their backs… We know that this is not the only solution,' he said of the ban, 'but it will make a difference.' Australia Federal Communications Minister Anika Wells, as quoted by the BBC, said that while there is a place for social media, 'there's not a place for predatory algorithms targeting children'. On YouTube threatening a court challenge, Wells said, 'I will not be intimidated by legal threats when this is a genuine fight for the well-being of Australian kids.' What if YouTube and other tech companies refuses to comply? Under the ban, tech companies can fined up to A$50m ($32.5m; £25.7m) if they do not comply with the age restrictions, as per the BBC report. What is Australia's social media ban all about? The Australian law called the ban as one of the 'reasonable steps' to block teen users (below the age of 16) from accessing social media platforms. The Online Safety Amendment Bill 2024 stated, 'There are age restrictions for certain social media platforms. A provider of such a platform must take reasonable steps to prevent children who have not reached a minimum age from having accounts.' PM Albanese had announced via a statement, 'The bill also makes clear that no Australian will be compelled to use government identification (including Digital ID) for age assurance on social media. Platforms must offer reasonable alternatives to users.' Notably, access to online gaming and apps associated with education and health support (like Google Classroom) will be allowed, now barring YouTube from this exemption. Other parts of the world, including, Britain, Norway and European Union countries including France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, have introduced similar curbs on social media usage among teens and children.
Irish Examiner
15-07-2025
- Politics
- Irish Examiner
Bill will grant judges power to defer detention for young offenders
Under proposed laws, judges will have the power to postpone a child's detention to allow them to deal with their offending in the community under supervision. Unlike adults, children currently cannot be given a suspended sentence because experts believe children think that they are getting off from sanction and will continue their offending. However, a new provision known as a deferred sentence supervision order will allow a judge, if they deem detention is appropriate, to defer sentencing for up to a year and put the child under the supervision of the Probation Service. If the child complies with conditions in the order — such as no further offending and be of good behaviour — a judge can discharge the child at sentencing. However, if the child does not comply, the judge can order detention at the sentencing hearing and, if the child has turned 18, imprisonment. The Oireachtas justice committee heard of the new provision during a hearing on three bills, including the Children (Amendment) Bill 2024. Marisa Gomez, of the Department of Justice, told the committee that the consensus among child and legal experts was that a suspended sentence, on its own, is 'not appropriate' for children as it 'does not give them an opportunity to deal with the consequences' of their offending. She said the child 'takes it that they are getting out of sanction'. She said they see a suspended sentence as a 'free ticket' and will continue their offending behaviour. Fianna Fáil TD for Dublin Bay North Tom Brabazon said there needed to be real restorative justice in sanctions applied, where they have to meet the people they have caused serious harm to and 'made understand' what they have done. He said restorative justice should be part of the diversion scheme for juveniles — where children are diverted from the courts — and in the sanctions imposed on children by courts. 'Plagued' by criminality He said he knows of cases where ordinary people are 'plagued' by children engaged in criminality and their lives made an 'utter misery'. A second draft bill, the General Scheme of the Criminal Justice (Violation of EU Restrictive Measures) Bill 2025, relates to Irish implementation of an EU directive on offences relating to sanctions. The most prominent ones are linked to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The sanctions include asset freezes, travel bans, as well as import/export restrictions, and the provision of financial and other services to sanctioned people or entities. Both the committee chair, Sinn Féin TD Matt Carthy, and independent senator Lynn Ruane said the bill was supposed to bring consistency in how EU member states treated breaches of sanctions, but was not consistent in the countries targeted — with Israel not on it. 'The concept and principle of restrictive measures is not applied consistently,' Mr Carty said, adding that the EU were currently failing to agree on sanctions on Israel. Brendan Bruen, of the Department of Justice, said the bill only deals with sanctions where they are already agreed by the EU. An address on the General Scheme of the National Cyber Security Bill, published last August, provided an overview of the provisions and the EU cybersecurity directive NIS2.
India Gazette
27-06-2025
- Business
- India Gazette
LS Speaker Om Birla's second term marked by record productivity, digital reforms
New Delhi [India], June 27 (ANI): One year since his re-election as speaker of the Lok Sabha, Om Birla's second term has emerged as a defining period of transformative change, legislative productivity and digital innovation in India's parliamentary journey. With four sessions already concluded and the fifth session scheduled to begin on July 21, the first year of the 18th Lok Sabha has proven to be not just a continuation but an evolution of India's vibrant democracy. During this period, Parliament has embraced reforms, responsiveness and representation like never before. As per the record of Lok Sabha, under Birla's leadership, who assumed the office of Speaker on June 26, 2024, the house has conducted proceedings for 372 hours and 36 minutes and achieved an average productivity of 103.17%, a record in recent times. A historic milestone was achieved on April 3, 2025, when 204 issues were raised during Zero Hour in a single day, the highest ever in Lok Sabha's history. A significant parliamentary reform was also introduced by renaming 'Matters of Urgent Public Importance' to 'Matters of Public Importance', streamlining procedures to reflect the evolving priorities of the House. The tireless approach of Speaker Birla, the 18th Lok Sabha, has passed 24 key legislations aimed at national progress and public welfare. In just four sessions, which included the Waqf Board (Amendment) Bill 2024, the Disaster Management (Amendment) Bill 2024, the Indian Aircraft Bill 2024 and the Immigration and Foreigners Bill 2025. These build upon landmark bills passed during the 17th Lok Sabha under Birla's leadership, such as the abrogation of Article 370, the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam and the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Act, 2019. Not only at the domestic front, the voice of Indian democracy echoed across the globe, and Parliamentary diplomacy worked with a renewed vigour. Om Birla has significantly elevated India's democratic voice in global forums. Representing India at key international events, including 10th BRICS Parliamentary Forum (Russia, July 2024), 149th and 150th IPU Assemblies (Geneva, Oct 2024 & Tashkent, Apr 2025), CSPOC Standing Committee Meeting (UK, Jan 2025), 11th BRICS Parliamentary Forum (Brazil, June 2025) etc, Indian Parliamentary Delegations under Birla's leadership actively participated and put forth India's view point on major issues including Pahalgam terror attack. In the last one year, India has also hosted parliamentary delegations from nine nations, including Japan, UAE, Russia, Mauritius, Maldives and Armenia, strengthening bilateral ties through parliamentary diplomacy. The Speaker also reaffirmed to constitute Parliamentary Friendship Groups with foreign Parliaments, with a commitment to evolve consensus on key issues. The most transformative initiative in Speaker Birla's tenure has been the launch of the Digital Parliament Project 2.0. Aimed at making Parliament smarter, transparent and accessible, the project includes digitisation of over 8,000 hours of archival parliamentary proceedings. Also, an AI-powered video search engine was launched with the capability of multilingual speech recognition. Birla also started a digital attendance system for MPs using tablets and smart pens. During the tenure of Speaker Birla, Parliament Digital Library (PDL) and eHRMS for staff management were also introduced. With the efforts of Birla as Lok Sabha Speaker, a unified onboarding system for new MPs, replacing 19 separate forms with a single digital app, was launched, saving time and minimising errors. 'Sansad Bhashini', an indigenous AI-based translation tool to provide multilingual access to parliamentary documents and proceedings, was introduced, breaking language barriers and fostering inclusivity in line with the Digital India mission. These initiatives not only reduce paper usage and boost efficiency but also redefine public access and transparency in the world's largest democracy. Speaker Birla's focus on increasing engagement is visible in initiatives like opening Room No. 52 of the Parliament Library Building, the Parliamentary Knowledge Platform and regular briefings on important bills. Women and youth have been encouraged to participate in parliamentary discussions and fellowships, underscoring Parliament's inclusive ethos. As India's population crosses 1.4 billion, Lok Sabha continues to be a platform that echoes the concerns and aspirations of every Indian citizen. The digital initiatives, record productivity, and legislative reforms under Om Birla's leadership not only modernise procedures but also strengthen the moral and institutional foundations of Indian democracy. The 18th Lok Sabha under Om Birla has reaffirmed that democracy is not static, but it evolves, adapts, and modernizes in tune with the needs of the people it represents. India's Parliament today is not just a custodian of the past; it is a beacon for the future. And at the heart of this transformation stands a Speaker who has seamlessly blended tradition with innovation, steering the House with firmness, foresight, and an unwavering commitment to public service. (ANI)
Sinar Daily
23-06-2025
- Business
- Sinar Daily
CAAM to take over functions of Mavcom from Aug 1 to become sole aviation industry regulatory body
Transport Minister Anthony Loke said CAAM would fully take over the economic regulatory functions previously carried out by Mavcom. 23 Jun 2025 01:41pm CAAM and Mavcom are being rationalised where all aviation industry regulatory functions including technical and economic aspects will be consolidated under one entity. - Bernama photo PUTRAJAYA - The Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) and the Malaysian Aviation Commission (Mavcom) will be rationalised effective August 1, bringing the aviation industry's regulatory functions under one entity, CAAM. In a press conference here today, Transport Minister Anthony Loke said CAAM would fully take over the economic regulatory functions previously carried out by Mavcom. The move was in line with international best practices where other countries are now adopting a single regulatory model in the aviation sector to ensure more effective coordination. - Bernama file photo "CAAM and Mavcom are being rationalised where all aviation industry regulatory functions including technical and economic aspects will be consolidated under one entity, CAAM. "The rationalisation of CAAM and Mavcom is part of the government's institutional reform efforts to improve the efficiency of the regulatory structure, reduce duplication of functions between agencies that have similar roles and ensure more integrated and efficient service delivery to the industry and the people,' he said. Loke said the move was in line with international best practices where other countries are now adopting a single regulatory model in the aviation sector to ensure more effective coordination. Loke said this rationalisation also lays a solid foundation for CAAM to drive the growth of Malaysia's aviation industry, in line with the country's aspiration to become a competitive and inclusive advanced economy. To implement this rationalisation, the Malaysian Aviation Commission (Dissolution) Bill 2024 [Act 856] and the Malaysian Civil Aviation Authority (Amendment) Bill 2024 [Act A1723] were tabled and passed in the Dewan Rakyat on June 26, 2024 and in the Dewan Negara on July 30, 2024. Both acts received the assent of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong on September 11, 2024 and were published in the Gazette on September 25, 2024. "Both acts will come into force from August 1, 2025, coinciding with the enforcement date of CAAM as a Remunerated Separated and Exempted Statutory Body (BBDSB). "With the enactment of these two acts, the transfer of functions and responsibilities from Mavcom to CAAM can be implemented in accordance with the law officially," he said. Loke stressed that all Mavcom staff will be offered suitable placements at CAAM based on their skills and experience. He said a town hall session would also be held to discuss the new salary rates for CAAM staff following its merger with Mavcom and the increase in duties. "Offer letters will be issued to all 57 Mavcom staff by the end of this month," he said. He said that through this restructuring, Malaysia is now in a stronger position to face global challenges in the aviation sector. "CAAM will be better prepared to drive the growth of the aviation industry in a more progressive and sustainable direction. "This is in line with the government's goal to make Malaysia a regional aviation hub, and support the country's agenda towards inclusive, balanced and innovation-driven economic development," he said. - BERNAMA
The Sun
23-06-2025
- Business
- The Sun
CAAM to take over functions of MAVCOM from Aug 1 to become sole aviation industry regulatory body
PUTRAJAYA: The Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) and the Malaysian Aviation Commission (MAVCOM) will be rationalised effective August 1, bringing the aviation industry's regulatory functions under one entity, CAAM. In a press conference here today, Transport Minister Anthony Loke said CAAM would fully take over the economic regulatory functions previously carried out by MAVCOM. 'CAAM and MAVCOM are being rationalised where all aviation industry regulatory functions including technical and economic aspects will be consolidated under one entity, CAAM. 'The rationalisation of CAAM and MAVCOM is part of the government's institutional reform efforts to improve the efficiency of the regulatory structure, reduce duplication of functions between agencies that have similar roles and ensure more integrated and efficient service delivery to the industry and the people,' he said. Loke said the move was in line with international best practices where other countries are now adopting a single regulatory model in the aviation sector to ensure more effective coordination. Loke said this rationalisation also lays a solid foundation for CAAM to drive the growth of Malaysia's aviation industry, in line with the country's aspiration to become a competitive and inclusive advanced economy. To implement this rationalisation, the Malaysian Aviation Commission (Dissolution) Bill 2024 [Act 856] and the Malaysian Civil Aviation Authority (Amendment) Bill 2024 [Act A1723] were tabled and passed in the Dewan Rakyat on June 26, 2024 and in the Dewan Negara on July 30, 2024. Both acts received the assent of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong on September 11, 2024 and were published in the Gazette on September 25, 2024. 'Both acts will come into force from August 1, 2025, coinciding with the enforcement date of CAAM as a Remunerated Separated and Exempted Statutory Body (BBDSB). 'With the enactment of these two acts, the transfer of functions and responsibilities from MAVCOM to CAAM can be implemented in accordance with the law officially,' he said. Loke stressed that all MAVCOM staff will be offered suitable placements at CAAM based on their skills and experience. He said a town hall session would also be held to discuss the new salary rates for CAAM staff following its merger with MAVCOM and the increase in duties. 'Offer letters will be issued to all 57 MAVCOM staff by the end of this month,' he said. He said that through this restructuring, Malaysia is now in a stronger position to face global challenges in the aviation sector. 'CAAM will be better prepared to drive the growth of the aviation industry in a more progressive and sustainable direction. 'This is in line with the government's goal to make Malaysia a regional aviation hub, and support the country's agenda towards inclusive, balanced and innovation-driven economic development,' he said.
