A New Mexico court has ordered Meta to pay $567 million into a teen mental health fund, ruling that Facebook and Instagram contributed to harming young users and created a public nuisance.

The court also directed Meta to implement stronger youth safety measures, including limits on teen usage, stricter controls on adult interactions with minors, notification restrictions, and safeguards against inappropriate AI chatbot interactions.

The landmark ruling could influence similar lawsuits across the United States, where dozens of states and more than 1,300 school districts are pursuing legal action against social media companies over alleged harm to children.

Meta Hit With $567 Million Penalty Over Teen Mental Health | Facebook & Instagram Under Fire

Snap has become the latest major social media platform to settle a high-profile child safety lawsuit, joining TikTok and YouTube. The settlement leaves Meta as the only remaining defendant in a growing legal battle over the alleged impact of addictive platform features on children and teenagers. The lawsuit claims social media companies knowingly designed products that harmed young users' mental health. Legal experts believe these cases could force major tech companies to strengthen child safety protections, improve parental controls, and redesign key platform features.

Snap settles Child Safety Lawsuit | Meta left alone as legal pressure mounts

A disturbing new investigation has exposed how online predator networks allegedly exploit gaming platforms, encrypted chat rooms, and social media to manipulate and groom children. Experts warn that these digital ecosystems rely on psychological coercion, fear, and blackmail, making them one of the internet's most dangerous hidden threats. Here's what parents need to know about the growing global concern over online child exploitation.

The Internet’s Darkest Secret: Inside the global network exploiting children online

Snapchat is under investigation by the European Union over concerns about child safety and illegal sales on its platform. Regulators are examining whether safeguards are strong enough. The probe could lead to strict penalties and new rules for social media companies operating across Europe.

Snapchat Under EU Investigation Over Child Safety and Illegal Sales

Sara Netanyahu, the wife of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, has said that her son has been facing online attacks amid heightened political tensions and ongoing regional conflict. Her remarks highlight growing concerns within Israel’s leadership circles about the impact of social media criticism on political families during wartime.


Israeli PM Netanyahu's Wife Says Her Son's Face Online Attacks

Roblox, one of the most popular video games among teens, said it is to enact changes to its child safety features and parental controls for children under the age of 13 to access certain features. This comes after growing concern about child safety among parents.

The game has nearly 400 million log-ins each month, with most of its users being 15 or younger and one-fifth of the users below nine years. Roblox is facing accusations of failing to protect its millions of young users and moderating the content on the platform. The seemingly harmful video game platform with simple graphics and Lego-like characters, turns out a cause of worry for many parents.

A recent investigation by the New York investment firm Hindenburg Research discovered accounts trading child abuse materials, calling the platform a “paedophile hellscape”. They also discovered hundreds of accounts named after Jeffrey Epstein, a sex offender.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/lifestyle/news-this-country-will-increase-minimum-age-limit-to-use-social-media-to-15-to-protect-children-770305">This country will increase minimum age limit to use social media to 15 to protect children</a>

“We think Roblox has adopted the Silicon Valley approach of ‘growth at all costs’... by opening its platform to dangerous predators and illicit content unsuitable for children,” Hindenburg said.

However, the $26 billion company has denied any claims and said that safety is “foundational” to them with tens of millions of users of all ages having positive experiences.

“We take any content or behaviour on the platform that doesn’t abide by our standards extremely seriously and we have a robust set of proactive and preventative safety measures designed to catch and prevent malicious or harmful activity on our platform,” the company said. It also added that Hindenburg is driven by profit they would make should the Roblox shares fall.

The US National Centre on Sexual Exploitation, a conservative pressure group, earlier said that the game is “a tool for sexual predators”.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-election-trump-accused-of-groping-former-model-as-jeffrey-epstein-watched-the-twisted-game-770285">Trump accused of groping former model as Jeffrey Epstein watched the ‘twisted game’</a>

<h2>Child safety changes</h2>

Roblox Corp. has said that it will be introducing more features aimed at improving child safety on its platform. Children under the age of 13 will require parental permissions to access certain chat features, according to an email the company sent to parents, which was reviewed by Bloomberg. Users under the age of nine will require permission from parents to play games that contain crude humour or violence. Roblox no longer allows children under the age of five to create an account since September.

The company will also introduce certain types of accounts that enable parents to monitor their child’s activity and friends on the platform. The company is expected to implement these changes in the next month, according to reports.

(With inputs from agencies)

Roblox, one of the most popular video games among teens, said it is to enact changes to its child safety features and parental controls for children under the age of 13 to access certain features.

Roblox, one of the most popular video games among teens, said it is to enact changes to its child safety features and parental controls for children under the age of 13 to access certain features. This comes after growing concern about child safety among parents. The game has nearly 400 million log-ins each month, with most of its users being 15 or younger and one-fifth of the users below nine years. Roblox is facing accusations of failing to protect its millions of young users and moderating the content on the platform. The seemingly harmful video game platform with simple graphics and Lego-like characters, turns out a cause of worry for many parents. A recent investigation by the New York investment firm Hindenburg Research discovered accounts trading child abuse materials, calling the platform a “paedophile hellscape”. They also discovered hundreds of accounts named after Jeffrey Epstein, a sex offender. Also read | This country will increase minimum age limit to use social media to 15 to protect children “We think Roblox has adopted the Silicon Valley approach of ‘growth at all costs’... by opening its platform to dangerous predators and illicit content unsuitable for children,” Hindenburg said. However, the $26 billion company has denied any claims and said that safety is “foundational” to them with tens of millions of users of all ages having positive experiences. “We take any content or behaviour on the platform that doesn’t abide by our standards extremely seriously and we have a robust set of proactive and preventative safety measures designed to catch and prevent malicious or harmful activity on our platform,” the company said. It also added that Hindenburg is driven by profit they would make should the Roblox shares fall. The US National Centre on Sexual Exploitation, a conservative pressure group, earlier said that the game is “a tool for sexual predators”. Also read | Trump accused of groping former model as Jeffrey Epstein watched the ‘twisted game’ Child safety changes Roblox Corp. has said that it will be introducing more features aimed at improving child safety on its platform. Children under the age of 13 will require parental permissions to access certain chat features, according to an email the company sent to parents, which was reviewed by Bloomberg. Users under the age of nine will require permission from parents to play games that contain crude humour or violence. Roblox no longer allows children under the age of five to create an account since September. The company will also introduce certain types of accounts that enable parents to monitor their child’s activity and friends on the platform. The company is expected to implement these changes in the next month, according to reports. (With inputs from agencies)

Roblox, accused of child safety concerns, to enact parental controls

Apple has launched a feature on its iMessage platform that will allow children to report nude images and videos to the tech firm that would then bring it to the notice of law enforcement agencies.

The change is being rolled out first in Australia from Thursday (Oct 24).

The beta release is part of an update of Apple's operating system and extends the safety measures earlier given to users aged under 13 since iOS 17.

Watch: Shocking Rise In AI-produced Child Abuse Material

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Here is how the new feature aimed at further protecting user privacy will work:

The iPhones can automatically detect images and videos that contain nudity that children might receive or attempt to send in iMessage, AirDrop, FaceTime and Photos.

When such sensitive imagery is&nbsp;detected, the young users will be given intervention screens before they can proceed.

There will be options to contact a parent or guardian and to&nbsp;report the images and videos to Apple.

The device will then generate reports containing the visuals, as well as messages preceding and following the images and videos.

The report will include contact information of both the sender and receiver.&nbsp;

Users can fill out a form to explain what happened, which Apple will review.

Action such as disabling the users' ability to send messages through iMessage will follow. 
 
Apple can also report the issue to law enforcement agencies.

The tech giant said the feature will eventually be rolled out across the world after the beta test in Australia.

Australia was chosen as the first region in the wake of new rules being implemented in the country to crack down on controversial content on tech platforms and devices.

The new rules require companies to monitor child abuse and terror-related content on messaging and cloud services in Australia by the end of 2024.

While Apple maintains that the new features would&nbsp;protect end-to-end encryption and raised concerns about mass surveillance, the law has been softened a bit.

Yet, the&nbsp;Australian&nbsp;government insists that&nbsp;companies must&nbsp;take action to tackle child abuse and terror content.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/new-york-catholic-diocese-to-pay-323mn-to-530-child-sex-abuse-survivors-in-largest-diocese-bankruptcy-762507">New York Catholic diocese to pay $323mn to 530 child sex abuse survivors, in largest US diocese bankruptcy</a>

Apple has drawn criticism across the world over its reluctance to ease up on its end-to-end encryption to help law enforcement.

There was earlier a plan from Apple to scan photos and videos stored in its iCloud for child sexual abuse material (CSAM), but that was scrapped in late 2022 over privacy concerns.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/india-trumps-china-as-manufacturer-of-apples-most-expensive-iphone-pro-and-pro-max-models-751537">Also read: India trumps China as manufacturer of Apple's most expensive iPhone Pro and Pro Max models</a> 
 
In the UK, the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children had accused Apple of vastly undercounting how often CSAM appears in its products, according to a report in The Guardian newspaper.

Apple reported only 267 cases of suspected CSAM on its platforms in 2023.

That's seen as a massive under-reporting when compared to Meta, the owner of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, which submitted more than 30 million CSAM reports. 
 
Google sent nearly 1.5 million reports in the same period.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Apple has launched a feature on its iMessage platform that will allow children to report nude images and videos to the tech firm that would then bring it to the notice of law enforcement agencies.

Apple has launched a feature on its iMessage platform that will allow children to report nude images and videos to the tech firm that would then bring it to the notice of law enforcement agencies. The change is being rolled out first in Australia from Thursday (Oct 24). The beta release is part of an update of Apple's operating system and extends the safety measures earlier given to users aged under 13 since iOS 17. Watch: Shocking Rise In AI-produced Child Abuse Material × Here is how the new feature aimed at further protecting user privacy will work: The iPhones can automatically detect images and videos that contain nudity that children might receive or attempt to send in iMessage, AirDrop, FaceTime and Photos. When such sensitive imagery is detected, the young users will be given intervention screens before they can proceed. There will be options to contact a parent or guardian and to report the images and videos to Apple. The device will then generate reports containing the visuals, as well as messages preceding and following the images and videos. The report will include contact information of both the sender and receiver. Users can fill out a form to explain what happened, which Apple will review. Action such as disabling the users' ability to send messages through iMessage will follow. Apple can also report the issue to law enforcement agencies. The tech giant said the feature will eventually be rolled out across the world after the beta test in Australia. Australia was chosen as the first region in the wake of new rules being implemented in the country to crack down on controversial content on tech platforms and devices. The new rules require companies to monitor child abuse and terror-related content on messaging and cloud services in Australia by the end of 2024. While Apple maintains that the new features would protect end-to-end encryption and raised concerns about mass surveillance, the law has been softened a bit. Yet, the Australian government insists that companies must take action to tackle child abuse and terror content. Also read: New York Catholic diocese to pay $323mn to 530 child sex abuse survivors, in largest US diocese bankruptcy Apple has drawn criticism across the world over its reluctance to ease up on its end-to-end encryption to help law enforcement. There was earlier a plan from Apple to scan photos and videos stored in its iCloud for child sexual abuse material (CSAM), but that was scrapped in late 2022 over privacy concerns. Also read: India trumps China as manufacturer of Apple's most expensive iPhone Pro and Pro Max models In the UK, the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children had accused Apple of vastly undercounting how often CSAM appears in its products, according to a report in The Guardian newspaper. Apple reported only 267 cases of suspected CSAM on its platforms in 2023. That's seen as a massive under-reporting when compared to Meta, the owner of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, which submitted more than 30 million CSAM reports. Google sent nearly 1.5 million reports in the same period. (With inputs from agencies)

Now, children using iMessage platform can report nudity to Apple; feature rolls out in Australia

Toddlers should not be allowed to watch screens at all, Sweden told parents on Monday.

Children under the age of two should be kept away from digital media and television completely, the country's&nbsp;Public Health Agency said.

Kids between the ages of two and five should be limited to a maximum of one hour of screen time a day, it said in new recommendations, while those aged six to 12 should spend no more than an hour or two a day in front of a screen.

Teenagers aged 13 to 18 should be limited to two to three hours per day, the agency said.

"For too long, smartphones and other screens have been allowed to enter every aspect of our children's lives," Public Health Minister Jakob Forssmed told reporters.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/lifestyle/news-kids-need-humans-not-screens-effects-of-early-screen-time-exposure-on-child-development-620281">Kids need humans, not screens! Effects of early screen time exposure on child development</a>

The minister said that Swedish teens aged 13 to 16 spend six and a half hours a day on average in front of their screens, outside of school hours.

Forssmed said that didn't leave "a lot of time for communal activities, physical activity or adequate sleep", and lamented a Swedish "sleep crisis" noting that more than half of 15-year-olds did not get enough sleep.

The health agency also recommended that kids not use screens before going to bed and that phones and tablets be kept out of bedroom at night.

It cited research showing that excessive screen use can lead to poor sleep, depression and body dissatisfaction.

Also watch |&nbsp;What is the right age for kids to be on social media?

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Sweden's government has previously said it is looking at a ban on smartphones in primary schools.

Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION&nbsp;audience.

Toddlers should not be allowed to watch screens at all, Sweden told parents on Monday. Children under the age of two should be kept away from digital media and television completely, the country's Public Health Agency said.

Toddlers should not be allowed to watch screens at all, Sweden told parents on Monday. Children under the age of two should be kept away from digital media and television completely, the country's Public Health Agency said. Kids between the ages of two and five should be limited to a maximum of one hour of screen time a day, it said in new recommendations, while those aged six to 12 should spend no more than an hour or two a day in front of a screen. Teenagers aged 13 to 18 should be limited to two to three hours per day, the agency said. "For too long, smartphones and other screens have been allowed to enter every aspect of our children's lives," Public Health Minister Jakob Forssmed told reporters. Also read | Kids need humans, not screens! Effects of early screen time exposure on child development The minister said that Swedish teens aged 13 to 16 spend six and a half hours a day on average in front of their screens, outside of school hours. Forssmed said that didn't leave "a lot of time for communal activities, physical activity or adequate sleep", and lamented a Swedish "sleep crisis" noting that more than half of 15-year-olds did not get enough sleep. The health agency also recommended that kids not use screens before going to bed and that phones and tablets be kept out of bedroom at night. It cited research showing that excessive screen use can lead to poor sleep, depression and body dissatisfaction. Also watch | What is the right age for kids to be on social media? × Sweden's government has previously said it is looking at a ban on smartphones in primary schools. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

No TV or screens for toddlers, Sweden tells parents

Mark Zuckerberg, the Chief Executive Officer of Meta Platforms Inc, the parent company overseeing social media giants Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, is poised to receive an annual dividend of $700 million. The announcement follows Meta's disclosure on Thursday that it would issue its first-ever quarterly dividend to investors, in a significant development since Facebook's Initial Public Offering in 2012.

The development comes a day after Zuckerberg faced one of the most significant moments of public scrutiny during a US Senate judiciary committee hearing on Wednesday (Feb 1), where Zuckerberg and other tech executives were questioned about the impact of their platforms on young users.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/no-one-should-go-through-zuckerberg-issues-apology-over-harm-caused-to-children-due-to-social-media-685688">Watch: Meta's Zuckerberg faces accusation of having 'blood on his hands', apologises to families</a>

During the hearing, lawmakers discussed potential legislation that could remove legal immunity for content posted on Meta and similar platforms. This follows a massive lawsuit filed by the attorneys general of 41 states, criticising Meta's impact on young users.&nbsp;

<h2>How Meta is in position to give $700mn to Zuckerberg?</h2>

Despite Meta's decision to cut its workforce by 22 per cent, reducing the total headcount to approximately 19,000, the company reported $40 billion in revenues for the final quarter of the previous year, surpassing Wall Street expectations.&nbsp;

Quarterly profits tripled to $14 billion, driven by a rebound in advertising sales. Meta also launched a substantial $50 billion share buyback program.

Also watch |&nbsp;Gravitas | Meta CEO grilled: The sorry state of Mark Zuckerberg

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Zuckerberg, also said that Meta would pay its first dividend as a public company at 50 cents per share. He&nbsp;announced that this $1.25 billion distribution to investors would be the inaugural installment of regular payouts.&nbsp;

With approximately 350 million shares in his possession, Zuckerberg stands to accumulate around $700 million in dividends over the first year of this new policy.

<h2>Meta turns 20 in Feb 2024</h2>

The 39-year-old CEO, whose total compensation in 2022 amounted to $27 million, made this financial revelation as Meta commemorates its 20th anniversary this month.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Mark Zuckerberg, the Chief Executive Officer of Meta Platforms Inc, the parent company overseeing social media giants Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, is poised to receive an annual dividend of $700 million.

Mark Zuckerberg, the Chief Executive Officer of Meta Platforms Inc, the parent company overseeing social media giants Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, is poised to receive an annual dividend of $700 million. The announcement follows Meta's disclosure on Thursday that it would issue its first-ever quarterly dividend to investors, in a significant development since Facebook's Initial Public Offering in 2012. The development comes a day after Zuckerberg faced one of the most significant moments of public scrutiny during a US Senate judiciary committee hearing on Wednesday (Feb 1), where Zuckerberg and other tech executives were questioned about the impact of their platforms on young users. Also read | Watch: Meta's Zuckerberg faces accusation of having 'blood on his hands', apologises to families During the hearing, lawmakers discussed potential legislation that could remove legal immunity for content posted on Meta and similar platforms. This follows a massive lawsuit filed by the attorneys general of 41 states, criticising Meta's impact on young users. How Meta is in position to give $700mn to Zuckerberg? Despite Meta's decision to cut its workforce by 22 per cent, reducing the total headcount to approximately 19,000, the company reported $40 billion in revenues for the final quarter of the previous year, surpassing Wall Street expectations. Quarterly profits tripled to $14 billion, driven by a rebound in advertising sales. Meta also launched a substantial $50 billion share buyback program. Also watch | Gravitas | Meta CEO grilled: The sorry state of Mark Zuckerberg × Zuckerberg, also said that Meta would pay its first dividend as a public company at 50 cents per share. He announced that this $1.25 billion distribution to investors would be the inaugural installment of regular payouts. With approximately 350 million shares in his possession, Zuckerberg stands to accumulate around $700 million in dividends over the first year of this new policy. Meta turns 20 in Feb 2024 The 39-year-old CEO, whose total compensation in 2022 amounted to $27 million, made this financial revelation as Meta commemorates its 20th anniversary this month. (With inputs from agencies)

Zuckerberg to get $700mn in Meta dividends day after apologising to parents over children safety

Sexual predators suicide tendencies eating disorders and unrealistic beauty standards are just some of the issues that young people deal with on social media. Children activism lawyers say that companies are not doing enough to protect them. On Wednesday the CEOs of Meta, Tikok, X and Snapchat testified on the Senate Judiciary Committee addressing the charges.

Social media giants accused of not safeguarding children on platform

In a significant US&nbsp;Senate hearing, executives from leading social media companies, including Meta, TikTok, Snap, and Discord, faced rigorous questioning about their efforts to combat online child sexual exploitation.

Senator Dick Durbin, the Democratic chairman of the Judiciary Committee, highlighted disturbing statistics from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, revealing a surge in financial "sextortion" cases where predators manipulate minors into sharing explicit content, as reported by Reuters.&nbsp;

Durbin attributed the alarming growth in child sexual exploitation to technological changes. During the hearing, a video featuring children recounting their victimisation on social media platforms was played, emphasising the gravity of the issue. Parents, holding pictures of their children, anxiously awaited the CEOs' entrance into the hearing room.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/elon-musk-walks-teslas-optimus-robot-excitement-erupts-online-watch-685488">Also read |&nbsp;Elon Musk 'walks with' Tesla’s Optimus robot, excitement erupts online</a>

<h2>Accusations and accountability</h2>

Senator Lindsey Graham, addressing Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, accused the company of having "blood on their hands," holding them accountable for the impact of their products. Graham's strong statements reflected concerns about the potential harm caused by social media platforms.

TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew made his first appearance before US&nbsp;lawmakers since March, addressing concerns about the app's impact on children's mental health.

Chew emphasised TikTok's commitment to safety, detailing careful product design choices to prevent harm to teenagers and strict community guidelines against exploitation.

Chew revealed that over 170 million Americans use TikTok monthly, acknowledging that platforms like TikTok are exploited by offenders to target children or trade child sexual abuse material. Durbin pointed out that such platforms are becoming tools for offenders to exploit and endanger minors.

CEOs, including Zuckerberg, Yaccarino, Spiegel, and Citron, testified about their commitment to protecting young users. Zuckerberg's written testimony acknowledged the ongoing challenge, with criminals adapting tactics necessitating continuous improvement in responses. Spiegel highlighted Snap's parental controls resembling real-world monitoring, balancing privacy and safety.

Also watch |&nbsp;Biden under pressure over death of three US soldiers in Jordan

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While the committee approved bills last year, including one removing tech firms' immunity from child sexual abuse material laws, none have become law. Senator Amy Klobuchar stressed the need for legislative action, citing social media companies' historical neglect of children's safety and their role in facilitating harmful content and illegal activities.

(With inputs from agencies)

In a significant US Senate hearing, executives from leading social media companies, including Meta, TikTok, Snap, and Discord, faced rigorous questioning about their efforts to combat online child sexual exploitation.

In a significant US Senate hearing, executives from leading social media companies, including Meta, TikTok, Snap, and Discord, faced rigorous questioning about their efforts to combat online child sexual exploitation. Senator Dick Durbin, the Democratic chairman of the Judiciary Committee, highlighted disturbing statistics from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, revealing a surge in financial "sextortion" cases where predators manipulate minors into sharing explicit content, as reported by Reuters. Durbin attributed the alarming growth in child sexual exploitation to technological changes. During the hearing, a video featuring children recounting their victimisation on social media platforms was played, emphasising the gravity of the issue. Parents, holding pictures of their children, anxiously awaited the CEOs' entrance into the hearing room. Also read | Elon Musk 'walks with' Tesla’s Optimus robot, excitement erupts online Accusations and accountability Senator Lindsey Graham, addressing Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, accused the company of having "blood on their hands," holding them accountable for the impact of their products. Graham's strong statements reflected concerns about the potential harm caused by social media platforms. TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew made his first appearance before US lawmakers since March, addressing concerns about the app's impact on children's mental health. Chew emphasised TikTok's commitment to safety, detailing careful product design choices to prevent harm to teenagers and strict community guidelines against exploitation. Chew revealed that over 170 million Americans use TikTok monthly, acknowledging that platforms like TikTok are exploited by offenders to target children or trade child sexual abuse material. Durbin pointed out that such platforms are becoming tools for offenders to exploit and endanger minors. CEOs, including Zuckerberg, Yaccarino, Spiegel, and Citron, testified about their commitment to protecting young users. Zuckerberg's written testimony acknowledged the ongoing challenge, with criminals adapting tactics necessitating continuous improvement in responses. Spiegel highlighted Snap's parental controls resembling real-world monitoring, balancing privacy and safety. Also watch | Biden under pressure over death of three US soldiers in Jordan While the committee approved bills last year, including one removing tech firms' immunity from child sexual abuse material laws, none have become law. Senator Amy Klobuchar stressed the need for legislative action, citing social media companies' historical neglect of children's safety and their role in facilitating harmful content and illegal activities. (With inputs from agencies)

Meta, TikTok, X CEOs grilled at US Senate hearing on combating online child exploitation

Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has announced the implementation of new direct messaging restrictions aimed at enhancing the safety of teenage users on its platforms.

Meta limits messages for teen safety on Instagram, Facebook

Newly unredacted documents from New Mexico's lawsuit against Meta underscore the the company's "historical reluctance" to keep children safe on its platforms, the complaint says. New Mexico's Attorney General Raul Torrez sued Meta in December, saying the company failed to protect young users from exposure to child sexual abuse material and allowed adults to solicit explicit imagery from them.

Meta dragged to court for ignoring child safety on its platforms

The lawsuit reveals Meta's 'historical reluctance' to protect kids. Meta ignored child safety on its platforms. Meta aware of the sexualisation of minors on its platforms. Watch to know more!

New Mexico court sues Meta over child protection failures

Spain leads with an innovative age-verification app, preventing minors from accessing adult content. This system will use QR codes linked to official IDs, ensuring privacy. The UK and France are also introducing similar measures, with the EU pushing for stringent child protection online. These steps represent a considerable effort to safeguard young minds in the digital age.

Gravitas | Europe tackles online child safety with new age-verification tech

New safety standards for two-wheelers carrying children aged nine months to four years have been announced by the Indian Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.

According to new laws, children must now wear a crash helmet and a safety harness.

The new guidelines also set a 40-kilometer-per-hour speed limit for two-wheelers with children as pillion passengers.

The Motor Vehicles Act has been revised to include these regulations, which will take effect in a year.

Both the rider and the pillion will wear safety belts, allowing kids to be safely tethered to the rider.&nbsp;

According to the new standards, safety harnesses must be lightweight, sturdy, and made of nylon, with a weight capacity of up to 30 kg.

While riding pillion, children will be obliged to wear standard two-wheeler or bicycle safety helmets.

The ministry recommended changing the motor vehicle rules in October 2021 to include new safety standards for two-wheelers carrying youngsters.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

New safety standards for two-wheelers carrying children aged nine months to four years have been announced by the Indian Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.

New safety standards for two-wheelers carrying children aged nine months to four years have been announced by the Indian Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. According to new laws, children must now wear a crash helmet and a safety harness. The new guidelines also set a 40-kilometer-per-hour speed limit for two-wheelers with children as pillion passengers. The Motor Vehicles Act has been revised to include these regulations, which will take effect in a year. Both the rider and the pillion will wear safety belts, allowing kids to be safely tethered to the rider. According to the new standards, safety harnesses must be lightweight, sturdy, and made of nylon, with a weight capacity of up to 30 kg. While riding pillion, children will be obliged to wear standard two-wheeler or bicycle safety helmets. The ministry recommended changing the motor vehicle rules in October 2021 to include new safety standards for two-wheelers carrying youngsters. (With inputs from agencies)

India makes helmets and safety harnesses a must for kids riding pillion

One of the main concerns of the parents is to ensure that their children remain safe. It becomes especially tough for them to keep track of their kids whenever they go to school or play outside.

But a small tracker that can monitor their kids’ activities can make bring a major sigh of relief.

Over the past decade, the scale of technological innovation has grown leaps and bounds. So much so, that parents can now even keep track of their children’s location without having to be physically present.

From the era of smartphones and smartwatches, now comes the era of smart school bags equipped with many hi-tech features, including GPS technology.

What is a ‘smart bag’?

Named as ‘Smart Positioning Children Schoolbag’, the smart bag functions exactly like a smartphone, except without the functions of a dialler phone.

<img alt="This smart bag has GPS" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="b24d8338-d96a-4c5b-9350-89a2eb64ffec" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Smart-Positioning-Children-Schoolbag-Huawei-1.jpg" />

It has an operating system, GPS tech, LCD panel, among other things.

Who made the smart bag?

Chinese tech conglomerate Huawei has designed the new smart school bag for kids that features many advanced features.

The school bag has app controls and comes with HarmonyOS Connect support.

This bag will prove useful in places where children are not allowed to carry smartphones and smartwatches, such as schools.

What kind of features does the smart bag have?

Apart from GPS tracking technology, the bag has a 1.54-inch display, which is IP67 dust and waterproof. Parents can schedule class, set theme clock, etc..

<img alt="The bag comes with the “Smart Life” app which can be connected to a phone" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="0d395600-f732-405d-b325-9d5fbaeaf84b" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Smart-Positioning-Children-Schoolbag-Huawei.png" />

With the help of the smart positioning function fitted on the bag, parents will be able to keep an eye on the real time location of their children. It runs on BeiDou Navigation Satellite System—a Chinese satellite navigation system and GPS with 5CEP accuracy.

How can parents track their kids using the smart bag?

The bag comes with the “Smart Life” app which is connected to a phone. Once connected to the app, parents can set up to three-guard areas which will include home, school and other places.

As soon as the child reaches/leaves the set location with this bag, the parents would get an alert notification on their phone. They would get a real-time update of their children every 2 minutes.

How much does the bag weigh?

Surprisingly, it is lightweight compared to traditional school bags.

The structural design of the horizontal schoolbag is about 6-7 cm shorter than the height of the general schoolbag.

The strap design is made in such a way as to ensure that the bottom of the schoolbag is not dragged below the waist to avoid damage to the waist due to force. Thus, it is more suitable for children under 135cm.

There is also a U-shaped shoulder strap fitted on the schoolbag to provide comfort to the child’s shoulder and neck.

When will the smart bag be available?

At present, the bag is undergoing some tests before it can be launched commercially worldwide, as Huawei is currently recruiting public testers to check the functionalities of the bag.

(With inputs from agencies)

One of the main concerns of the parents is to ensure that their children remain safe. It becomes especially tough for them to keep track of their kids whenever they go to school or play outside.

One of the main concerns of the parents is to ensure that their children remain safe. It becomes especially tough for them to keep track of their kids whenever they go to school or play outside. But a small tracker that can monitor their kids’ activities can make bring a major sigh of relief. Over the past decade, the scale of technological innovation has grown leaps and bounds. So much so, that parents can now even keep track of their children’s location without having to be physically present. From the era of smartphones and smartwatches, now comes the era of smart school bags equipped with many hi-tech features, including GPS technology. What is a ‘smart bag’? Named as ‘Smart Positioning Children Schoolbag’, the smart bag functions exactly like a smartphone, except without the functions of a dialler phone. It has an operating system, GPS tech, LCD panel, among other things. Who made the smart bag? Chinese tech conglomerate Huawei has designed the new smart school bag for kids that features many advanced features. The school bag has app controls and comes with HarmonyOS Connect support. This bag will prove useful in places where children are not allowed to carry smartphones and smartwatches, such as schools. What kind of features does the smart bag have? Apart from GPS tracking technology, the bag has a 1.54-inch display, which is IP67 dust and waterproof. Parents can schedule class, set theme clock, etc.. With the help of the smart positioning function fitted on the bag, parents will be able to keep an eye on the real time location of their children. It runs on BeiDou Navigation Satellite System—a Chinese satellite navigation system and GPS with 5CEP accuracy. How can parents track their kids using the smart bag? The bag comes with the “Smart Life” app which is connected to a phone. Once connected to the app, parents can set up to three-guard areas which will include home, school and other places. As soon as the child reaches/leaves the set location with this bag, the parents would get an alert notification on their phone. They would get a real-time update of their children every 2 minutes. How much does the bag weigh? Surprisingly, it is lightweight compared to traditional school bags. The structural design of the horizontal schoolbag is about 6-7 cm shorter than the height of the general schoolbag. The strap design is made in such a way as to ensure that the bottom of the schoolbag is not dragged below the waist to avoid damage to the waist due to force. Thus, it is more suitable for children under 135cm. There is also a U-shaped shoulder strap fitted on the schoolbag to provide comfort to the child’s shoulder and neck. When will the smart bag be available? At present, the bag is undergoing some tests before it can be launched commercially worldwide, as Huawei is currently recruiting public testers to check the functionalities of the bag. (With inputs from agencies)

Now, parents can track children’s location with this smart school bag

Facebook Inc Chief Executive Officer <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/facebook-tightens-political-advert-rules-for-singapore-252233">Mark Zuckerberg</a> defended on Thursday his decision to encrypt the company's messaging services, despite concerns about its impact on child exploitation and other criminal activity.

The United States, Britain and Australia signed an open letter earlier in the day calling for <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/united-states-justice-department-to-open-antitrust-investigation-against-facebook-252174">Facebook</a> to suspend its encryption plan, saying it would hinder the fight against child abuse and terrorism.

Zuckerberg, speaking in a livestream of the company's weekly internal Q&amp;A session, said he had been aware of child exploitation risks before announcing his encryption plan and acknowledged that it would reduce tools to fight the problem.

"When we were deciding whether to go to end-to-end encryption across the different apps, this was one of the things that just weighed the most heavily on me," he said.

Addressing an employee question about online child abuse, Zuckerberg acknowledged that losing access to the content of messages would mean "you're fighting that battle with at least a hand tied behind your back."

But he said he was "optimistic" that Facebook would be able to identify predators even in encrypted systems using the same tools it used to fight election interference, like patterns of activity and links between accounts on different platforms.

Watch: Facebook suspends thousands of Apps

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He also suggested the company might further limit the ways adults can interact with minors on Facebook's platforms.

Zuckerberg announced his plan to pivot the company toward more private forms of communication in March, capping months of internal debate over the merits of encryption, three sources familiar with the discussions told Reuters.

Inside the company, privacy engineers and others eager to shed the legacy of the Cambridge Analytica scandal saw the move as a win, as did product managers watching the steady uptick of growth at Facebook's encrypted messaging service WhatsApp.

But members of Facebook's safety team familiar with the child exploitation risks argued against the plan, raising deep concerns through the group's leaders and in large company meetings with senior executives, the sources said.

The United States, Britain and Australia said in their joint letter that they had engaged with Facebook on the issue, but that the company had not committed to addressing their "serious concerns" about the impact of its proposals.

The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children also met with Zuckerberg and other senior leaders of Facebook, who offered assurances that child safety was important to them.

Facebook Inc Chief Executive Officer Mark Zuckerberg defended on Thursday his decision to encrypt the company's messaging services, despite concerns about its impact on child exploitation and other criminal activity.

Facebook Inc Chief Executive Officer Mark Zuckerberg defended on Thursday his decision to encrypt the company's messaging services, despite concerns about its impact on child exploitation and other criminal activity. The United States, Britain and Australia signed an open letter earlier in the day calling for Facebook to suspend its encryption plan, saying it would hinder the fight against child abuse and terrorism. Zuckerberg, speaking in a livestream of the company's weekly internal Q&A session, said he had been aware of child exploitation risks before announcing his encryption plan and acknowledged that it would reduce tools to fight the problem. "When we were deciding whether to go to end-to-end encryption across the different apps, this was one of the things that just weighed the most heavily on me," he said. Addressing an employee question about online child abuse, Zuckerberg acknowledged that losing access to the content of messages would mean "you're fighting that battle with at least a hand tied behind your back." But he said he was "optimistic" that Facebook would be able to identify predators even in encrypted systems using the same tools it used to fight election interference, like patterns of activity and links between accounts on different platforms. Watch: Facebook suspends thousands of Apps × He also suggested the company might further limit the ways adults can interact with minors on Facebook's platforms. Zuckerberg announced his plan to pivot the company toward more private forms of communication in March, capping months of internal debate over the merits of encryption, three sources familiar with the discussions told Reuters. Inside the company, privacy engineers and others eager to shed the legacy of the Cambridge Analytica scandal saw the move as a win, as did product managers watching the steady uptick of growth at Facebook's encrypted messaging service WhatsApp. But members of Facebook's safety team familiar with the child exploitation risks argued against the plan, raising deep concerns through the group's leaders and in large company meetings with senior executives, the sources said. The United States, Britain and Australia said in their joint letter that they had engaged with Facebook on the issue, but that the company had not committed to addressing their "serious concerns" about the impact of its proposals. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children also met with Zuckerberg and other senior leaders of Facebook, who offered assurances that child safety was important to them.

Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg defends encryption, despite child safety concerns

New South Wales became the second state in Austalia after Victoria as it introduced new reforms allowing victims to sue churches in child sexual abuse cases.

New South Wales on Sunday made new reforms in NSW's civil litigation laws under which the vicitms of child sexual abuse will be able to&nbsp;sue institutions like churches orphanges, sporting clubs, youth groups and schools.

These reforms are based on recommendations of the royal commission which released its final report last year.

Earlier those insitutions cannot be put liable for offences like child sexual abuse as their assets were church trustees could not be held accountable for crimes of individuals of the church,&nbsp;but after these recent reforms come into effect it removes legal barries that had stoppped vicitms from seeking justice. Now the courts will have the power&nbsp;to appoint trustees to be sued if such institutions fail to appoint an entity with assets and allow the assets of the trust to be used to satisfy the claim.

The media reports quoted, New South Wales attorney, General Mark Speakman saying, "The Royal Commission found many survivors felt let down by the current civil litigation system which made it difficult for them to seek damages and hold institutions to account."

''These reforms will provide access to new avenues to allow survivors to pursue compensation so they can focus on recovering and moving forward with their lives,'' a US Daily reported Speakman as saying.

Under the new reforms, such organisations would need to provide proof that they took reasonable precautions to prevent abuse as the government announced the reversal of the burden of proof.&nbsp;

According to media reports thousands of children in Australia are victim of sexual assault. The royal commision while preparing the report heard testimony of over 15,000 survivors as they detailed their claims.

The reports further say that more than 4,000 such institutions are accused of sexual abuse.

Earlier in May the Victoria state of Australia became the first state to introduce such reforms in their law.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

These reforms are based on recommendations of the royal commission which released its final report last year

New South Wales became the second state in Austalia after Victoria as it introduced new reforms allowing victims to sue churches in child sexual abuse cases. New South Wales on Sunday made new reforms in NSW's civil litigation laws under which the vicitms of child sexual abuse will be able to sue institutions like churches orphanges, sporting clubs, youth groups and schools. These reforms are based on recommendations of the royal commission which released its final report last year. Earlier those insitutions cannot be put liable for offences like child sexual abuse as their assets were church trustees could not be held accountable for crimes of individuals of the church, but after these recent reforms come into effect it removes legal barries that had stoppped vicitms from seeking justice. Now the courts will have the power to appoint trustees to be sued if such institutions fail to appoint an entity with assets and allow the assets of the trust to be used to satisfy the claim. The media reports quoted, New South Wales attorney, General Mark Speakman saying, "The Royal Commission found many survivors felt let down by the current civil litigation system which made it difficult for them to seek damages and hold institutions to account." ''These reforms will provide access to new avenues to allow survivors to pursue compensation so they can focus on recovering and moving forward with their lives,'' a US Daily reported Speakman as saying. Under the new reforms, such organisations would need to provide proof that they took reasonable precautions to prevent abuse as the government announced the reversal of the burden of proof. According to media reports thousands of children in Australia are victim of sexual assault. The royal commision while preparing the report heard testimony of over 15,000 survivors as they detailed their claims. The reports further say that more than 4,000 such institutions are accused of sexual abuse. Earlier in May the Victoria state of Australia became the first state to introduce such reforms in their law.

Australia: NSW allows child sexual abuse victims to sue churches

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