Online safety bill needs tougher rules on misogyny

  • Social media firms will be legally required to abide by social media company’s terms and conditions, which will generally ban misogynistic language.
  • Failure to enforce these terms and conditions will result in companies either being fined, or their services being blocked by internet watchdog, Ofcom.
  • A group of Tory peers are planning to put forward an amendment that would see the law go further.
  • This amendment would give Ofcom the power to fine social media companies up to 10% of their global turnover if they fail to comply with a code outlawing online misogyny.
  • A potential draft code of practice has been drawn up by campaign groups such as the NSPCC and End Violence Against Women.
  • For more on this story, please visit the Guardian’s website.

AI friendship chatbot Replika hit with data ban in Italy over child safety

  • Replika is an artificial intelligence (AI) operated chatbot which provides ‘virtual friendship’ designed to make human users feel better.
  • Italy’s privacy watchdog have said they are concerned that Replika’s chatbot technology poses risks to both young people and the emotionally vulnerable.
  • The Garante have also voiced concern that Replika lacks a proper legal basis for processing children’s data under GDPR and have stated that failure to comply will result in a fine of up to €20 million or 4% of total worldwide annual turnover.
  • Check out our article, ‘What you need to know about…Replika’.
  • For more on this story, please visit the Tech Crunch website.

Teachers handing out toothpaste as rising UK costs hit pupils’ dental health

  • A survey conducted by hygiene poverty charity Beauty Banks and the British Dental Association (BDA) has revealed that 81% of teachers say that some children in their school have no access to toothpaste.
  • 41% say this leads to them facing social exclusion because of poor oral hygiene.
  • One in four teachers said they were kept awake at night worrying about their pupil’s wellbeing and 38% reported feeling helpless.
  • For more on this story, please visit the Guardian’s website.

Transfer test: P7 pupils in NI receive AQE and GL results

  • Thousands of primary seven pupils in Northern Ireland received their transfer tests results on Saturday.
  • It is estimated that 1,000 children sat the tests held in November and December 2022.
  • Concerns among parents in Dungannon school arose after those who sat GL tests failed to receive results in the post on Saturday.
  • The Post Office and Royal Mail have issued an apology.
  • There is due to be a switch to the test later this year. A common test will be held for the first time on two Saturdays in November 2023 and will be used by all selective schools in Northern Ireland.
  • For more on this story, please visit the BBC News website.