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October 20, 2023

EU gives Meta and TikTok formal Hamas disinformation deadline

  • TikTok and Meta have been formally told to provide the EU with information about the possible spread of disinformation on their platforms relating to the Israel-Gaza conflict.
  • Previously, they were given 24 hours to provide answers to the bloc’s concerns, but that request did not carry legal force, whereas this latest demand does.
  • Both firms have a week to respond. Under its new tech rules, the EU can open a formal investigation if it is unsatisfied with their responses.
  • The EU’s latest demand comes a week after they contacted X over similar concerns.
  • Now under the Digital Services Act (DSA) the firms must respond by the set deadlines.
  • Failure to comply could result in fines up to 6% of a company’s global turnover, or even suspension of the platform.
  • For more, please visit the BBC News website.

Department of Education publishes Every CHILD, its Corporate Plan for 2023-2028

  • The Department of Education (DE) has published Every CHILD, which puts children and young people at the centre of its strategic priorities.
  • Some of the five new child-centred strategic priorities, include championing the needs and aspirations of all children and young people and the positive impact of education, and delivering an effective, child-first, collaborative and high-quality education system.
  • Dr Mark Browne, Permanent Secretary of the DE stated: “I firmly believe that children and young people should be at the heart of everything we do as a Department.”
  • He continued, reporting that the new strategic priorities will ensure that “focus remains on continuing to deliver positive outcomes for all children and young people.”
  • For more, please visit the Department of Education website.

NI Education: School attendance hit worst level on record

  • School attendances in NI over the last two years have been the worst on record.
  • In both 2021/22 and 2022/23 school years, about 30% of pupils had absence rates classed as “chronic” or “severe chronic”, according to the Department of Education.
  • Additionally, more than 200,000 school days in 2022/23 were missed by primary school pupils withdrawn from class for family holidays that were not agreed with the school.
  • Claire McClelland, the department’s director of raising aspiration, supporting learning and empowering improvement, reported that many children find it difficult to attend school due to emotional health and wellbeing issues.
  • She continued, stating that pupils’ level of achievement is impacted by attendance and affects how they make friends.
  • For more, please visit the BBC News website.