Europe agrees new law to curb Big Tech dominance

  • European lawmakers have agreed on new rules to address criticisms of major technology firms using their market dominance to squeeze out the competition.
  • Under the Digital Markets Act (DMA), giants such as Google and Apple will be forced to open their services and platforms to other businesses.
  • Critics have raised concerns that the “some provisions of the DMA will create unnecessary privacy and security vulnerabilities” by allowing third-party services.
  • You can read the full story on the BBC’s website.

Deplorable scam emails fake fundraising for Ukraine

  • The UK’s national fraud reporting centre is warning about fake emails pretending to raise money for victims of the war in Ukraine.
  • Action Fraud has received 196 reports of fraudulent requests to fundraise for victims of the crisis involving different con methods.
  • Action Fraud has shared advice including being cautious of links or attachments in emails and scrutinise online donation pages for authenticity.
  • You can read the full story on the BBC’s website.

Watchdog to investigate police response to child sexual exploitation

  • The Home Secretary, Priti Patel, has called in a police watchdog to carry out an inspection into how police respond to child sexual exploitation (CSE).
  • This follows a report published in February that found “extensive failures” in the way CSE by criminal gangs is tackled.
  • Police and authorities were found to potentially downplay the scale of abuse over concerns about negative publicity.
  • You can read the full story on the Independent’s website.

Legislation to make period products freely available passed by Assembly

  • Legislation which will make period products freely available in all schools, colleges and public buildings has been passed in NI Assembly.
  • This will create a legal right of free access to items such as tampons and sanitary pads.
  • Previously, NI had been the only part of the UK not to have a permanent scheme in place to tackle period poverty.
  • You can read the full story on Belfast Telegraph’s website.

Babies and young children could be ‘hidden victims of pandemic’

  • NSPCC Northern Ireland warns that babies and young children could be the hidden victims of the pandemic.
  • More than one in five health reviews for babies did not take place during 2020-21.
  • According to Department of Health figures, more than 28% of babies missed their 6-9 month contact and almost half of infants missed their one-year review.
  • You can read the full story on the Irish News website.