The Digital Child Newsletter - 9th May
Edited by Luke Taylor
Big news:
Ofcom proposes new measures for UK online harms
Big Tech spends big in America
Canada moves against sexual exploitation
Ofcom updates:
The proposals: Ofcom's new suggested measures could lead to the removal of millions of children from social media platforms. Two of the 40 recommendations include banning the “self-declaration of age” and requiring social media companies to configure their algorithms in such a way as to filter the most harmful content from children’s social media feeds.
“The measures Ofcom have set out would not just require platforms and search services to roll out robust age checks to shield children from age-inappropriate content… They go even further, seeking to understand the impact of addictive features like ‘infinite scrolling’ feeds, addressing the devastating effects of damaging algorithms that – little by little – increase the harms to which our children are exposed.”
Michelle Donelan, Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology
Thoughts? Parents of Molly Russell and Brianna Ghey expressed disappointment with Ofcom's draft. Mr Russell emphasised the need for more ambitious measures to prevent harm, stating that risks for teenagers continue to worsen. They argued for stricter enforcement and a total ban on harmful algorithms.
"Ofcom’s task was to seize the moment and propose bold and decisive measures that can protect children from widespread but inherently preventable harm."
Ian Russell
For a helpful legal analysis outlining the different categories of content deemed ‘harmful’ (e.g., porn, suicide, self harm and eating disorders) check out this release from our friends at the Online Safety Act Network.
Big Tech expenses:
Meta lobbying hits hard: Meta, formerly Facebook, has reported its largest-ever lobbying expenditure in the USA of $7.6 million in the first quarter of 2024, marking a significant increase from previous quarters. The surge in spending parallels the heightened scrutiny from pending legislation targeting Meta and its peers, such as the KOSA and COPPA. Despite Meta's assertion that the increase is largely due to operational expenses, its clear that the company's lobbying efforts notably encompassed various key bills and issues.
A bit more context: Apple, Google, and Microsoft spent closer to $2 or $3 million in the same period. The previous quarterly record was $5.4 million at the end of 2021. Interestingly, this was also set by Meta and coincided with the revelations from former employee turned whistle-blower Frances Haugen, who shared internal documents showing the company was aware of the harmful effects of its services on teens, among other findings.
Canada:
Progress on Bill C-270: This Bill would demand mandatory age and consent verification for every individual featured in every user-generated online porn video. Fortunately, it passed second reading unanimously. Here’s an official summary:
“This enactment amends the Criminal Code to prohibit a person from making, distributing or advertising pornographic material for commercial purposes without having first ascertained that, at the time the material was made, each person whose image is depicted in the material was 18 years of age or older and gave their express consent to their image being depicted.”
For the fully official version, go here.
More on Big Tech:
Deepfake marketing takes a hit: Following from last weeks story in Alabama regarding the Child Protection Act of 2024, Google has now also updated its advertising policy. It will explicitly prohibit the promotion of services that facilitate the creation of deepfake pornography and other forms of synthetic nude content. The change, effective May 30th, aims to address the growing issue of non-consensual deepfake pornography. Legislative action, such as the DEFIANCE Act, is also being considered to address the issue of deepfake porn.
ChatGPT might get spicy: OpenAI's draft documentation reveals considerations to potentially permit the generation of NSFW (not safe for work) content, including pornographic material, through its AI technology like ChatGPT. Concerns should be raised with new video generator tools like SORA. It sounds like OpenAI need to read the room on this one.
Around the World:
UK:
Debate incoming: Next Tuesday, Miriam Cates MP will be leading a debate in Parliament looking at the impact of smartphones and social media on children. It should be a good place to hash out the evidence in the heart of Westminster.
Canada:
Sextortion in British Colombia: In response to the alarming surge in cases of online sexual exploitation, AKA ‘sexploitation’, workshops across Canada, such as B.C. group Children of the Street, are educating young people on identifying and avoiding potential threats. They targeted predominantly teen boys, who make up 90% of reported sextortion victims. They also employed some catchy, and memorable, marketing…
"The more that kids know, the less power it gives to the online predators."
Chantelle MacIsaac, parent.
USA:
Lets hope this flies: Senators are proposing amendments to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reauthorization act to incorporate bills aimed at enhancing online safety for children. The proposed bills, COPPA 2.0 and the KOSA, seek to update regulations on data privacy and limit potentially harmful features targeting minors. COPPA 2.0, introduced by Sens. Ed Markey and Bill Cassidy, aims to better protect data for users aged 16 and under and prohibit targeted ads for minors. Meanwhile, KOSA, proposed by Sens. Richard Blumenthal and Marsha Blackburn, aims to address online safety concerns through comprehensive legislation.
"Today (May 2nd), Senator Cassidy and I filed COPPA 2.0 as an amendment to the FAA bill because we have waited far too long to protect children and teens’ privacy in this country. We need to stop Big Tech’s invasive and pernicious business model that tracks and targets our young people online. Big Tech has contributed to the youth mental crisis, and it’s time Congress did something about it."
Senator Ed Markey
Malaysia:
A Framework in the making: Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil announced Malaysia's plans to finalize a regulatory framework for online services platforms, focusing on safeguarding children from potential harms associated with early media exposure. Within the framework, social media platforms will be required to comply with Malaysian laws and conduct requirements. A special committee, involving the Communications Ministry and the Legal Affairs Division, has been tasked with looking into an Online Safety Act, and will convene on May 14th.
Uganda:
Social Media drives up depression: A new Global Education Monitoring (GEM) report by UNESCO has found that Girls in Uganda who use social media for an hour or more on a school day have been found to have lower levels of well-being than those who use less.
“More children (4 in 10 children) in urban areas were exposed to sexual images, especially those above the age of 11. Social networking sites were the most common platforms where children claimed to have seen these sexual photos, and nearly half of them (44.7%) were accessed through a mobile device with internet access. And one in every 10 children admitted to having gone ahead to share a sexual image.”
This is a global problem. It needs a global solution.
Editor’s choice:
Miriam Cates on X: On Tuesday 14th May, I’ll be leading a debate in Parliament to discuss the impact of smartphones and social media on children. Smartphones and social media are not safe for kids. We need to reclaim childhood.
Policy Exchange on X: The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness With Professor @JonHaidt In Conversation with @David_Goodhart (this one’s a long one!)
safescreenscampaign on X: Report links sex crimes by children to access to porn on smartphones “These statistics speak to the extent to which children's brains are being trained by coercive, violent pornography - which can manifest in teenagers as a sense of sexual entitlement.”