People Fixing the World Being better citizens
People Fixing The World from the BBC is about brilliant solutions to the world's problems. We release a new edition every week. We'd love you to let us know what you think and to hear about your own solutions. You can contact us on WhatsApp by messaging +44 8000 321721 or email peoplefixingtheworld@bbc.co.uk. And please leave us a review on your chosen podcast provider.
Presenter: Myra Anubi
Reporter: Alison Roberts
Producer: Claire Bates
Editor: Jon Bithrey
Sound mix: Hal Haines
(Image: Students at a school in Portugal take part in a MyPolis session, MyPolis)
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The Guardian
19 minutes ago
- The Guardian
Thursday briefing: Everything you need to know about the new internet safety rules
Good morning. From tomorrow social media companies must introduce child safety measures under the Online Safety Act. It is a key moment for a British government attempting, like so many others, to rein in tech firms and prevent children encountering harmful content on the internet. Passed by parliament in 2023, the landmark legislation significantly empowers the regulator Ofcom. Peter Kyle, the science and technology secretary, described the new codes as a 'watershed moment' that turned the tide on 'toxic experiences on these platforms'. Social media companies operating in the UK now risk hefty fines if they fail to take strong action against content that is harmful to children such as pornography or material that encourages self-harm. Another substantial change is the requirement for pornography websites to verify that users are aged 18 or older, using methods such as photo-ID matching, facial age estimation, credit and debit card checks, mobile operator verification, open banking and digital ID wallets. You may never have heard of it, but the act represents a significant step up in internet safety regulation – and overhaul of how we live online – in the UK. To explore why it was introduced, whether it goes far enough, and whether it will even work, I spoke to Dan Milmo, the Guardian's global technology editor. That's after the headlines. Israel-Gaza war | More than 100 aid agencies issued a dire warning that 'mass starvation' was spreading across Gaza and urged Israel to let humanitarian aid in. Environment | A 'clean, healthy and sustainable environment' is a human right, according to judges at the top court of the United Nations, in a landmark advisory opinion about countries' obligations to tackle climate change and the consequences they may face if they do not. US news | Microsoft says Chinese 'threat actors', including state-sponsored hackers, have exploited security vulnerabilities in its SharePoint document-sharing servers, with research indicating that several hundred government agencies and organisations have been breached. UK politics | Reform UK footed the bill for a £350 bottle of champagne at a luxury lunch and a £989-a-night hotel with hundreds of pounds in room service, its election campaign spending data shows. Media | The BBC is to broadcast a series of MasterChef featuring Gregg Wallace and John Torode, filmed before the presenters were dropped after facing upheld allegations over their behaviour. This legislation, which applies to more than 100,000 companies – including major platforms like Facebook, Google, X, Reddit, and OnlyFans – came to be following impassioned campaigning by online safety advocates, Dan Milmo told me. 'Longstanding concerns about the impact of social media on children's mental health is a key driver. But there's also significant worry about social media's effect on adult mental health, including online hate like racial hatred and general abuse,' he says. 'This attempts to regulate social media companies and large search engines, which previously lacked formal oversight.' Crucial figures pushing for the government to act on online safety include Ian Russell, the father of Molly Russell, a teenager who took her own life in 2017 after viewing harmful content online, Dan added. Other influential voices include Baroness Kidron, who has tirelessly advocated for higher standards of children's online safety. There have also been advocates for other aspects of the act, which came into force in 2023 but has taken some time to get up and running, including the footballer Rio Ferdinand, who has spoken powerfully about the mental health impacts of online hate, and the reality TV star Georgia Harrison, a victim of intimate image abuse (sometimes known as revenge porn). How will it work? Ofcom has been given significant new powers to enforce the new rules. 'There's a lot of literature that's already been issued by Ofcom that underpins the act,' Dan said. 'I think that reflects the difficulty in regulating the massive, amorphous thing which is the online world. This isn't like telling the BBC to not show nudity before 9pm. This is about 100,000 companies. While it's obvious that people are still going to see harmful content, this is at least attempting to make a start on that.' Dan explained the new rules don't focus on individual pieces of content but instead mandate robust systems and procedures within companies to tackle harmful content effectively. They also loop in previous legislation on malicious communication online, beefing up hate speech laws and giving regulators greater powers to hold tech platforms accountable for failing to act on abusive or threatening content. He added: 'If companies don't comply, they risk punishments ranging from fines and formal warnings to criminal charges against executives or even being blocked entirely in the UK.' Are these companies ready to comply? Time will tell, Dan said – but the big tech firms do have the money to be able to do so. What about age verification? One of the most controversial elements is the implementation of age verification checks to ensure people who want to access pornography sites are over 18. These age verification requirements will come into force tomorrow, with major pornography providers like Pornhub already committing to putting in place 'highly effective' age-checking measures. 'There has been some backlash over privacy concerns, as confirming one's age implicitly reveals one's consumption of specific content,' Dan said. 'It's worth pointing out that verification methods must comply with UK GDPR standards. A new industry of age-assurance providers, like Yoti, has emerged to facilitate this securely.' Social media companies could also be required to implement age checks if their sites contain harmful content like pornography that can be accessed by under-18s. Social media platforms have to convince Ofcom that whatever measures they put in place to shield children from harmful material are highly effective - and those measures could include stringent age checks. Oliver Griffiths, Ofcom's group director of online safety, said in a statement that 'society has long protected youngsters from products that aren't suitable for them, from alcohol to smoking or gambling … For too long children have been only a click away from harmful pornography online.' Does it go far enough? Campaigners generally feel the act could be stronger. In April, the children's commissioner for England, Rachel de Souza, told Dan that Ofcom was backing big tech over the safety of under-18s, warning that the proposals were too weak. The Molly Rose Foundation, a charity established by the family of Molly Russell, also criticised the measures (pdf) as 'overly cautious'. 'There's definitely a desire to have stronger measures. Peter Kyle, the tech secretary, was speaking this week about putting in a two-hour social media cap to crack down on 'compulsive' screentime. So the government is definitely considering stronger measures to keep children safe online,' Dan explained. The UK isn't alone: Australia is moving to ban social media for all under-16s. 'Many campaigners continue to push for stronger protections, particularly regarding the addictive nature of social media and protections for women's rights and children's safety,' Dan said. There were fears the act would get watered down as part of an effort to get a trade deal with the US. 'But the government comes back every time and says very strongly, 'we will not water down protection of children'. They point out that the act's primary focus is stopping children from being harmed online,' Dan said. Across the Atlantic, where many of the tech giants who will need to comply are based, some in Donald's Trump administration have grumbled about what they see to be far-reaching implications for free speech. However, Dan doesn't believe they will lobby heavily to get it changed. 'It just wouldn't play very well. It would be pretty damaging politically for any government, including the UK, to agree to water down measures that protect children. And I just find it unlikely that tackling child sexual abuse material, for instance, would be something that is a bargaining chip in trade talks.' This act as it is feels like just the start, Dan added, with the government showing signs it is willing to update it if need be. 'Ofcom seems ready for the challenge. They are releasing a lot of codes and a lot of consultations. I think the ultimate test will be whether, let's say in a year's time, children's and adults' experience of the online world is much safer and more comfortable than it is today.' Sign up to First Edition Our morning email breaks down the key stories of the day, telling you what's happening and why it matters after newsletter promotion After the death of his father-in-law, Tim Burrows discovered that direct cremation, a service which cuts out middle men and effectively bypasses formal funerals, is on the rise. But what does this trend say about how we mourn now? Tim explores in this wonderful piece. Charlie Lindlar, acting deputy editor, newsletters As a Gen X-er who grew up pre-smartphone, the thought of someone constantly knowing my whereabouts fills me with horror. Yet today, couples frequently turn on the location-sharing function in order to track one another's movements. Leah Harper and her partner tried it for a week. Did their blue dots head to Splitsville? Alex Needham, acting head of newsletters Damian Carrington is always on top of the damage done by plastics, whether it's to our bodies or our planet. Now he digs into how the industry's lobbyists are 'derailing' a global treaty on cutting plastic production in this depressing piece. Charlie When Philippa Barnes was five, her family joined the Jesus Fellowship, a Christian community based in Northamptonshire, in which women were subordinate to men and family relationships suppressed. In a gripping long read, Barbara Speed tells the story of her life in and out of a cult that disfigured the lives of many of its members. Alex Before the the Towie clans, the Made in Chelsea lot and even the Kardashians, there were The Osbournes. Stuart Heritage explores how the show, centred on the recently departed Ozzy, wife Sharon and kids Jack and Kelly, changed TV … for better or for worse. Charlie Football | Aitana Bonmatí's extra-time winner earned a 1-0 victory against Germany putting Spain into the Euro 2025 final against England. Cricket | India's Rishabh Pant was driven off on a golf buggy and left nursing a suspected broken foot having attempted a reverse sweep off Chris Woakes. Fourth Test, day one: India 264-4 Football | Arsenal have finally reached agreement with Sporting for the transfer of Viktor Gyökeres in a deal worth up to €73.5m (£63.7m). 'We have faced hunger before, but never like this' – a quote from inside Gaza on the front page of the Guardian. The Express carries a 'new plea' from Bob Geldof: 'Feed the children of Gaza and their tormented, terrified, broken and panicked mothers'. 'Badenoch pledge to model leadership on state-slashing Argentine president' – that's the Financial Times while the i paper has 'Cancer patients face 'crushing' treatment delays due to doctors strike tomorrow'. 'Hit striking doctors in pocket, says NHS chief' is the top line in the Times. 'Police not ready for summer of unrest' runs the Telegraph's splash headline while the Daily Mail claims Home Office data shows 'Asylum seekers gambling away taxpayer cash'. The Metro has 'England star asked wife: Help me die'. 'Monster of rock … and proud grandpa' – Ozzy Osbourne remembered in the Mirror. Why do we age in dramatic bursts, and what can we do about it? Scientists are beginning to understand that ageing is not a simply linear process. Instead, recent research appears to show that we age in three accelerated bursts; at about 40, 60 and 80 years old. To find out what might be going on, Ian Sample hears from Professor Michael Snyder, director of the Center for Genomics and Personalised Medicine at Stanford University School of Medicine. Michael explains what the drivers of these bursts of ageing could be, and how they might be counteracted. A bit of good news to remind you that the world's not all bad For this week's edition of our games newsletter, Pushing Buttons (sign up here!), Keith Stuart writes on the couples who game together, and how they strengthen their bond through games like Final Fantasy and Animal Crossing. 'There is a lot of romance in experiencing new places together, getting lost and combining skills to help each other out of calamities. There is sweetness in a shared Stardew Valley or Animal Crossing escapade; there is intellectual challenge in quiet evenings with Blue Prince or Split Fiction,' he writes. 'For too long, gaming was seen as the preserve of lonely young men, a hobby too guarded and insular for lovers; now everyone can play and the digital world is opening up.' Sign up here for a weekly roundup of The Upside, sent to you every Sunday And finally, the Guardian's puzzles are here to keep you entertained throughout the day. Until tomorrow. Quick crossword Cryptic crossword Wordiply
The Guardian
43 minutes ago
- The Guardian
Zelenskyy pledges new bill on anti-corruption agencies' independence as protests continue
Volodymyr Zelenskyy promised a new bill to strengthen the rule of law in Ukraine on Wednesday, in an apparent attempt to assuage popular anger at his decision to weaken the powers of two independent anti-corruption agencies. Thousands of protesters took to the streets of Kyiv for a second day, while European leaders expressed concern at the Ukrainian president's contentious decision. The demonstrators gathered outside the presidential office, shouting anti-government slogans. They want him to scrap a controversial law that effectively places the agencies under government control. In a video address, Zelenskyy sought to deflect criticism by promising a new presidential bill. It would guarantee the independence of anti-corruption institutions and at the same time ensure there was 'no Russian influence', he said. 'Of course, everyone has heard what people are saying these days – on social media, to each other, on the streets. It's not falling on deaf ears,' he added. But the apparent concession left protesters unimpressed. They said Zelenskyy has not agreed to scrap the controversial aspects of Tuesday's bill and pointed out that the Verkhovna Rada – Ukraine's parliament, which approved the changes – has gone on holiday for the summer recess. Olha Ivanova, who has worked in the anti-corruption sector, said the government was calculating that the protests would fizzle out. She predicted they would continue. 'Civil society is huge in Ukraine. From time to time we have to remind the people in power that we elect them,' she said. Ivanova held up a placard in English and Ukrainian that read: 'Have you lost your mind?' She said she hoped Zelenskyy would reverse his decision, adding: 'He's not a dictator. Nobody would say this. He's a president in a very difficult political context during a war.' Ukraine's European backers including Germany, France and Sweden have echoed concerns about the new legislation, which the Ukrainian president approved on Tuesday night. They warned it could hamper Kyiv's attempt to join the EU and hinder the fight against corruption. The bill gives sweeping powers to the prosecutor general's office. It can now decide which cases the two independent agencies – the national anti-corruption bureau and the specialised anti-corruption prosecutor's office – are allowed to pursue. The two institutions have been key to fighting high-level corruption and protecting billions in international aid and investment. Critics say they have been stripped of their autonomy, making them indistinguishable from ordinary law enforcement bodies. Zelenskyy says the shake-up was needed to clean Ukraine's 'anti-corruption infrastructure' of alleged Russian connections. On Wednesday, he convened a meeting with the heads of law enforcement and anti-corruption agencies at his presidential office in Kyiv. Olena Kurnytska, a 21-year-old student at York University, took part in Wednesday's protest for the first time. She waved a placard saying 'I would like to see the future, not the flashbacks'. She said: 'We feel like its our civic duty to be here. It's an easy situation to exploit. A wartime government can twist democracy more easily.' Ursula von der Leyen, the head of the European Commission, was one of several prominent European figures who voiced unhappiness at the legislative amendments. She had asked Zelenskyy for explanations and had conveyed to him her strong concerns, her spokesperson said. They added: 'The respect for the rule of law and the fight against corruption are core elements of the European Union. As a candidate country, Ukraine is expected to uphold these standards fully. There cannot be a compromise.' In a pointed message to Kyiv, the EU's defence commissioner, Andrius Kubilius, said trust during wartime was 'easy to lose with one significant mistake by the leadership … Transparency and open European dialogue is the only way to repair [it].' Sign up to Headlines Europe A digest of the morning's main headlines from the Europe edition emailed direct to you every week day after newsletter promotion France's European minister, Benjamin Haddad, said there was still time for Ukraine to reverse its decision. 'It is not too late to go back on this,' he told France Inter radio. 'We will be extremely vigilant on the subject.' The popular backlash against the bill is turning into the biggest domestic political crisis of Zelenskyy's premiership. The crowd on Wednesday was larger than the night before. The street protests, which took place in several cities, were the first since Vladimir Putin's 2022 full-scale invasion. Civil-society leaders have accused the presidential administration of violating an informal contract with society. They say the agreement with government – that it was inappropriate to criticise official abuses because of the war with Russia – is definitively over. About 3,000 demonstrators gathered directly outside Zelenskyy's administration complex on Wednesday evening, shouting slogans beneath his window. They included 'shame', 'we are the power', and 'veto the law'. Posting earlier on Telegram, Zelenskyy said Ukrainians faced a 'common enemy' in the shape of 'Russian occupiers'. Of public criticism, he said: 'We all hear what society says. We see what people expect from state institutions to ensure justice and the efficiency of each institution.' Yuriy Sak, a former adviser to Ukraine's defence ministry, said Ukrainians had a strong historical tradition of protesting against anything that resembled authoritarianism or dictatorship, in Soviet times and today. 'It's in our DNA. We have a very good sense for where the red line is, and for when people cross this line. If anyone tries to tighten their grip on power people pour into the streets,' he said, citing the uprisings in 2004 and 2014 against perceived government misrule. Sak likened the collective mood to the air raid alerts that sound most evenings, when Kyiv and other cities came under Russian missile attack. 'Whenever we see authoritarianism on the move, a silent siren goes off in Ukrainian heads,' he suggested.
The Independent
an hour ago
- The Independent
Trump's golfing weekend in Scotland is an even bigger headache than his state visit
Donald Trump's golfing trip to Scotland this weekend has started to look like a few days of welcome relief for the US president. From Downing Street's perspective, however, it may all look a bit different. At home, Trump is embroiled in linked controversies that seem to have come out of the blue. Having seen off most of the legal challenges to the orders he issued in his first days back in office, he now faces a quasi-rebellion from his hitherto loyal and largely unquestioning base over a case that has little obvious bearing on high politics at all. These die-hard Trumpists were disappointed by official findings that the accused child-trafficker and convicted sex offender, Jeffrey Epstein, did indeed die by suicide in prison and that there is, and was, no secret client list. They had shared a conspiracy theory that Epstein was part of a shadowy elite, that he had been killed to keep him quiet, and that after Trump came to power, the truth would emerge. Now, Trump is himself being accused of an establishment cover-up, and is confronting a social media storm that even this master of the medium is struggling to control. Trump has also launched lawsuits against the Wall Street Journal, its proprietor, Rupert Murdoch, and two journalists, denying a report of links between Trump and Epstein, including a bawdy birthday greeting allegedly sent by Trump. The prospect of a court confrontation between the two titans is tantalising. Trump has also ordered files relating to the Epstein case to be published, and both his attorney general and Congress want to question Ghislaine Maxwell – the only person convicted in connection with the case so far. It may be surmised that they hope to tempt Maxwell with a reduction in her 20-year sentence and persuade her to offer some 'helpful' evidence. With only a year until the start of the midterm congressional election campaign, Trump needs to keep his base intact. No wonder four days in the wilds of Scotland – the homeland of his late mother and two Trump-owned golf courses, including a new resort on the Menie Estate, outside Aberdeen – might look like a welcome distraction. His foes on this side of the Atlantic are already tuning up – wags have put up a spoof sign at his golf course near Aberdeen that says 'twinned with Epstein Island' – and elaborate police and security operations are in train. When Trump last visited his Scottish businesses two years ago, he was not president. Now, even on a private visit, he requires presidential-level security, at least some of which must be supplied and paid for by the host country. The timing of this trip, less than one month before Trump's unprecedented second state visit to the UK, adds risk. Any infelicities, real or perceived, on either side now are in danger of negatively colouring the later visit, the invitation for which was conveyed by Keir Starmer during his trip to the White House soon after Trump's inauguration. Since then, content, timing and tone have all been in contention. The recent state visit by France's President Macron, with its especially high pageantry, address to parliament, and prominent deployment of the Prince and Princess of Wales, seemed top-of-the-line. Like the Macrons, the Trumps will stay at Windsor Castle, but this occasion has been timed to exclude the possibility of a parliamentary address and the visit to Balmoral that Trump angled for. Nor, the Palace has made clear, will the King be meeting Trump during his golfing weekend. The private and state visits are wisely being kept distinct. At government level, in contrast, a different choice has been made. The prime minister is expected to hold talks with Trump, potentially on every current issue, from trade tariffs to Ukraine, in or near Aberdeen, and possibly at Trump's golf course. There will also be a meeting with Scotland's first minister, John Swinney, who has decided that it is his duty 'to engage, to protect and to promote the interests of the people of Scotland', despite vocal opposition from other groups. Now, it could be said that Starmer, in particular, was damned if he did and damned if he didn't. Given that the decision has been taken, however, the aim must be to limit any damage. Anything that smacks of paying tribute must be avoided, and that includes meeting Trump at his golf course and any announcement about awarding the 2028 British Open to the now Trump-owned Turnberry, as the president would reportedly like. By meeting Trump in Scotland, Starmer risks not only becoming the focus of protests himself but also party to the negative blowback from British public opinion. As much can go wrong as go right. The prime minister should have followed the Palace and left all official encounters for the main event, where the protocol is clear and risks of all kinds are minimised. After all, there are fewer than four weeks to wait.
