Latest news with #Chaney
The Advertiser
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Advertiser
'Why do we need that?': Push to ban AI nudity apps
Parents are being warned their kids may be exploited online for child abuse material, amid a push to criminalise the use of apps that "nudify" pictures. Possessing nudify apps, digital platforms that allow users to insert a person's photos and use generative artificial intelligence to sexualise them, would become a criminal offence and carry up to 15 years in jail under proposed laws. "Why do we need that in an Australian community?" International Centre for Missing and Exploited Children's Dannielle Kelly told reporters in Canberra on Monday. One in four children has experienced sexual abuse, according to the Australian Child Maltreatment Study. Independent MP Kate Chaney, who introduced the proposed laws, said the federal government needed to respond more nimbly to ensure it wasn't outpaced by technological developments, such as AI being used to exploit children with little consequence. The proposed laws contain small carve-outs for law enforcement and researchers. "This is just the start, but it's something that the government could do right now," Ms Chaney said after introducing her private member's bill on Monday. The legislation follows a roundtable on AI-facilitated child exploitation, which called for urgent action. Child safety advocates and law enforcement representatives at the roundtable called for AI literacy for young people, the use of new technology to detect child exploitation material, legal restrictions on downloading such apps and better resourcing for police to tackle the issue. There was a consensus that AI was being weaponised to harm children, from creating deepfakes - which digitally manipulate images and video to superimpose someone's face or voice - to generating child abuse material, creating the potential for exploitation, blackmail and bullying. MP Zali Steggall, who seconded Ms Chaney's bill, branded it every parent's worst nightmare. "When a criminal is downloading this technology to then create this material, that's going to have a lifelong impact on children and is really damaging," the independent MP said. "We need these guardrails with urgency, we need the government to show it can act quickly. "My concern is, amidst the paralysis of a broad review of AI, we have these very clear areas of harm that go unaddressed for months at a time ... this is a very clear area of harm identified that can be dealt with very quickly." International Justice Mission Australia chief executive David Braga called for the government to legislate a digital duty of care, requiring platforms to actively take steps to prevent harm. "Now is the time for the Australian government to strengthen the Online Safety Act to require companies ... to detect and disrupt child sexual abuse material in all its forms on their platforms," he said. Attorney-General Michelle Rowland said keeping vulnerable Australians safe was the government's priority, and it would consider the legislation. "Keeping young people safe from emerging harms is above politics and the government will give appropriate consideration to the private member's bill," she said in a statement to AAP. Lifeline 13 11 14 Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800 (for people aged 5 to 25) 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028 Parents are being warned their kids may be exploited online for child abuse material, amid a push to criminalise the use of apps that "nudify" pictures. Possessing nudify apps, digital platforms that allow users to insert a person's photos and use generative artificial intelligence to sexualise them, would become a criminal offence and carry up to 15 years in jail under proposed laws. "Why do we need that in an Australian community?" International Centre for Missing and Exploited Children's Dannielle Kelly told reporters in Canberra on Monday. One in four children has experienced sexual abuse, according to the Australian Child Maltreatment Study. Independent MP Kate Chaney, who introduced the proposed laws, said the federal government needed to respond more nimbly to ensure it wasn't outpaced by technological developments, such as AI being used to exploit children with little consequence. The proposed laws contain small carve-outs for law enforcement and researchers. "This is just the start, but it's something that the government could do right now," Ms Chaney said after introducing her private member's bill on Monday. The legislation follows a roundtable on AI-facilitated child exploitation, which called for urgent action. Child safety advocates and law enforcement representatives at the roundtable called for AI literacy for young people, the use of new technology to detect child exploitation material, legal restrictions on downloading such apps and better resourcing for police to tackle the issue. There was a consensus that AI was being weaponised to harm children, from creating deepfakes - which digitally manipulate images and video to superimpose someone's face or voice - to generating child abuse material, creating the potential for exploitation, blackmail and bullying. MP Zali Steggall, who seconded Ms Chaney's bill, branded it every parent's worst nightmare. "When a criminal is downloading this technology to then create this material, that's going to have a lifelong impact on children and is really damaging," the independent MP said. "We need these guardrails with urgency, we need the government to show it can act quickly. "My concern is, amidst the paralysis of a broad review of AI, we have these very clear areas of harm that go unaddressed for months at a time ... this is a very clear area of harm identified that can be dealt with very quickly." International Justice Mission Australia chief executive David Braga called for the government to legislate a digital duty of care, requiring platforms to actively take steps to prevent harm. "Now is the time for the Australian government to strengthen the Online Safety Act to require companies ... to detect and disrupt child sexual abuse material in all its forms on their platforms," he said. Attorney-General Michelle Rowland said keeping vulnerable Australians safe was the government's priority, and it would consider the legislation. "Keeping young people safe from emerging harms is above politics and the government will give appropriate consideration to the private member's bill," she said in a statement to AAP. Lifeline 13 11 14 Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800 (for people aged 5 to 25) 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028 Parents are being warned their kids may be exploited online for child abuse material, amid a push to criminalise the use of apps that "nudify" pictures. Possessing nudify apps, digital platforms that allow users to insert a person's photos and use generative artificial intelligence to sexualise them, would become a criminal offence and carry up to 15 years in jail under proposed laws. "Why do we need that in an Australian community?" International Centre for Missing and Exploited Children's Dannielle Kelly told reporters in Canberra on Monday. One in four children has experienced sexual abuse, according to the Australian Child Maltreatment Study. Independent MP Kate Chaney, who introduced the proposed laws, said the federal government needed to respond more nimbly to ensure it wasn't outpaced by technological developments, such as AI being used to exploit children with little consequence. The proposed laws contain small carve-outs for law enforcement and researchers. "This is just the start, but it's something that the government could do right now," Ms Chaney said after introducing her private member's bill on Monday. The legislation follows a roundtable on AI-facilitated child exploitation, which called for urgent action. Child safety advocates and law enforcement representatives at the roundtable called for AI literacy for young people, the use of new technology to detect child exploitation material, legal restrictions on downloading such apps and better resourcing for police to tackle the issue. There was a consensus that AI was being weaponised to harm children, from creating deepfakes - which digitally manipulate images and video to superimpose someone's face or voice - to generating child abuse material, creating the potential for exploitation, blackmail and bullying. MP Zali Steggall, who seconded Ms Chaney's bill, branded it every parent's worst nightmare. "When a criminal is downloading this technology to then create this material, that's going to have a lifelong impact on children and is really damaging," the independent MP said. "We need these guardrails with urgency, we need the government to show it can act quickly. "My concern is, amidst the paralysis of a broad review of AI, we have these very clear areas of harm that go unaddressed for months at a time ... this is a very clear area of harm identified that can be dealt with very quickly." International Justice Mission Australia chief executive David Braga called for the government to legislate a digital duty of care, requiring platforms to actively take steps to prevent harm. "Now is the time for the Australian government to strengthen the Online Safety Act to require companies ... to detect and disrupt child sexual abuse material in all its forms on their platforms," he said. Attorney-General Michelle Rowland said keeping vulnerable Australians safe was the government's priority, and it would consider the legislation. "Keeping young people safe from emerging harms is above politics and the government will give appropriate consideration to the private member's bill," she said in a statement to AAP. Lifeline 13 11 14 Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800 (for people aged 5 to 25) 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028 Parents are being warned their kids may be exploited online for child abuse material, amid a push to criminalise the use of apps that "nudify" pictures. Possessing nudify apps, digital platforms that allow users to insert a person's photos and use generative artificial intelligence to sexualise them, would become a criminal offence and carry up to 15 years in jail under proposed laws. "Why do we need that in an Australian community?" International Centre for Missing and Exploited Children's Dannielle Kelly told reporters in Canberra on Monday. One in four children has experienced sexual abuse, according to the Australian Child Maltreatment Study. Independent MP Kate Chaney, who introduced the proposed laws, said the federal government needed to respond more nimbly to ensure it wasn't outpaced by technological developments, such as AI being used to exploit children with little consequence. The proposed laws contain small carve-outs for law enforcement and researchers. "This is just the start, but it's something that the government could do right now," Ms Chaney said after introducing her private member's bill on Monday. The legislation follows a roundtable on AI-facilitated child exploitation, which called for urgent action. Child safety advocates and law enforcement representatives at the roundtable called for AI literacy for young people, the use of new technology to detect child exploitation material, legal restrictions on downloading such apps and better resourcing for police to tackle the issue. There was a consensus that AI was being weaponised to harm children, from creating deepfakes - which digitally manipulate images and video to superimpose someone's face or voice - to generating child abuse material, creating the potential for exploitation, blackmail and bullying. MP Zali Steggall, who seconded Ms Chaney's bill, branded it every parent's worst nightmare. "When a criminal is downloading this technology to then create this material, that's going to have a lifelong impact on children and is really damaging," the independent MP said. "We need these guardrails with urgency, we need the government to show it can act quickly. "My concern is, amidst the paralysis of a broad review of AI, we have these very clear areas of harm that go unaddressed for months at a time ... this is a very clear area of harm identified that can be dealt with very quickly." International Justice Mission Australia chief executive David Braga called for the government to legislate a digital duty of care, requiring platforms to actively take steps to prevent harm. "Now is the time for the Australian government to strengthen the Online Safety Act to require companies ... to detect and disrupt child sexual abuse material in all its forms on their platforms," he said. Attorney-General Michelle Rowland said keeping vulnerable Australians safe was the government's priority, and it would consider the legislation. "Keeping young people safe from emerging harms is above politics and the government will give appropriate consideration to the private member's bill," she said in a statement to AAP. Lifeline 13 11 14 Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800 (for people aged 5 to 25) 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028
Perth Now
3 days ago
- Politics
- Perth Now
'Why do we need that?': Push to ban AI nudity apps
Parents are being warned their kids may be exploited online for child abuse material, amid a push to criminalise the use of apps that "nudify" pictures. Possessing nudify apps, digital platforms that allow users to insert a person's photos and use generative artificial intelligence to sexualise them, would become a criminal offence and carry up to 15 years in jail under proposed laws. "Why do we need that in an Australian community?" International Centre for Missing and Exploited Children's Dannielle Kelly told reporters in Canberra on Monday. One in four children has experienced sexual abuse, according to the Australian Child Maltreatment Study. Independent MP Kate Chaney, who introduced the proposed laws, said the federal government needed to respond more nimbly to ensure it wasn't outpaced by technological developments, such as AI being used to exploit children with little consequence. The proposed laws contain small carve-outs for law enforcement and researchers. "This is just the start, but it's something that the government could do right now," Ms Chaney said after introducing her private member's bill on Monday. The legislation follows a roundtable on AI-facilitated child exploitation, which called for urgent action. Child safety advocates and law enforcement representatives at the roundtable called for AI literacy for young people, the use of new technology to detect child exploitation material, legal restrictions on downloading such apps and better resourcing for police to tackle the issue. There was a consensus that AI was being weaponised to harm children, from creating deepfakes - which digitally manipulate images and video to superimpose someone's face or voice - to generating child abuse material, creating the potential for exploitation, blackmail and bullying. MP Zali Steggall, who seconded Ms Chaney's bill, branded it every parent's worst nightmare. "When a criminal is downloading this technology to then create this material, that's going to have a lifelong impact on children and is really damaging," the independent MP said. "We need these guardrails with urgency, we need the government to show it can act quickly. "My concern is, amidst the paralysis of a broad review of AI, we have these very clear areas of harm that go unaddressed for months at a time ... this is a very clear area of harm identified that can be dealt with very quickly." International Justice Mission Australia chief executive David Braga called for the government to legislate a digital duty of care, requiring platforms to actively take steps to prevent harm. "Now is the time for the Australian government to strengthen the Online Safety Act to require companies ... to detect and disrupt child sexual abuse material in all its forms on their platforms," he said. Attorney-General Michelle Rowland said keeping vulnerable Australians safe was the government's priority, and it would consider the legislation. "Keeping young people safe from emerging harms is above politics and the government will give appropriate consideration to the private member's bill," she said in a statement to AAP. Lifeline 13 11 14 Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800 (for people aged 5 to 25) 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028
West Australian
3 days ago
- Health
- West Australian
Australian news and politics live: Independent MP Chaney to introduce Bill to ban AI child sexual abuse apps
Scroll down for the latest news and updates. Independent MP Kate Chaney will today introduce a bill to outlaw technology that assists in the creation of child sexual abuse material. Under the bill it would be an offence to posess AI tools designed for the sole purpose of creating child sexual abuse material. 'This is a clear gap in our Criminal Code that I think we need to be able to respond quickly on so we can make sure we're keeping kids safe,' she said on ABC. 'Currently, possession of these images is illegal, but it's not illegal to possess these particular types of AI tools that are designed for the sole purpose of creating child sexual abuse material. 'So, it means that perpetrators can generate the material using images of real children, delete the images, and then recreate them whenever they want and avoid detection. 'This bill is focused on making it illegal to download these tools that are designed to create this material.' Ms Chaney said action was needed now. 'The challenge that we have is that we're creating a lot of reports and consultations, and the technology is moving so fast, so I think there's a need for urgent action on this. 'We need to be able to plug the gaps as we go, while addressing the broad issues about how we're going to encourage take-up of AI for its productivity benefits but creating appropriate guardrails so that people can have faith in it.'. Australians will pay no more than $25 for selected medicines for the first time in more than 20 years under a proposal to be brought before parliament. It will be the second cap on medicines on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) introduced by the Albanese government in three years, after it cut the maximum price of PBS prescriptions from $42.50 to $30. 'The size of your bank balance shouldn't determine the quality of your health care,' Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said. 'My government will continue to deliver cost-of-living relief for all Australians.' PBS medicines would be capped at $7.70 for pensioners and concession card holders until 2030. The bill's introduction is largely a formality, with its passage through the lower house all but assured thanks to Labor's massive 94-seat majority in the 150-seat House of Representatives. Read the story West is best again in economic circles but big gains made on the other side of the Nullarbor have surprised economists and left eastern states languishing. A boost in housing construction has propelled South Australia to second position, above Queensland and Victoria, in CommSec's latest State of the States report released on Monday. Western Australia remains the nation's top performer for the fourth straight quarter with strong returns on retail spending and business investment, but an upheaval could be on the horizon. 'We are seeing Western Australia lose a little bit of momentum,' CommSec chief economist Ryan Felsman told AAP. 'It's been growing at a breakneck speed the last two or three years, and the reason for that is population growth has been the highest for some time.' Read the story A plan to boost the number of fully bulk-billing general practice clinics is likely to fall dramatically short of forecasts, a healthcare directory operator warns. Labor's $7.9 billion plan to expand the Bulk Billing Incentive Program to include non-concession patients projected the number of fully bulk-billing GP clinics to rise to 4800. But healthcare directory operator Cleanbill estimates the number of entirely bulk-billing clinics will rise by just 740 to 2081 because incentive payments will not cover consultation costs for certain clinics. Federal Health Minister Mark Butler slammed the report as inaccurate and fundamentally flawed. 'This is a headline-grabbing phone poll conducted by a private company whose own website says their data is not 'reliable, accurate, complete or suitable',' Mr Butler said in a statement. 'For the first time, Labor will expand bulk-billing incentives to all Australians and create an additional new incentive payment for practices that bulk bill every patient.'
Yahoo
18-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
City GOP makes pick for Ward 3 special election
PLATTSBURGH — Dennis Chaney is the city of Plattsburgh Republican Committee's pick in this November's special election for Ward 3 councilor. City Republican Chairperson David Souliere said Wednesday the committee is 'incredibly excited' to nominate Chaney, who lives on Rugar Street, for the seat. Souliere said Chaney graduated from Plattsburgh High School in 1975, attended Clinton Community College for two years and then served his country for 20 years in the United States Air Force, where he served as a security specialist, as well as a recruiter. This experience then led to his next career, 17 years at the Clinton County Sheriff's Department, where he served as a correction officer seargeant for 14 years, retiring as special deputy for the Clinton County Airport. 'Through these experiences Dennis has attained strong leadership qualities, along with the ability to collaborate, to attain goals that are in the best interests of his community as a whole,' Souliere wrote in a statement. 'These attributes will serve as a critical asset to the Common Council, and the Mayor, as they navigate long term debt stability, public safety issues, and future development within the City.' Souliere said Chaney is already thinking about ways to improve Ward 3. 'Within Ward 3 is the newly annexed property off of Reeves lane, Dennis looks forward to working with the Common Council, and the Mayor, to find the most sustainable and responsible use for this property,' Souliere said. 'In conclusion, we could not be more excited to have Dennis Chaney as our candidate for Ward 3 City Councilperson. He will be your FULL-TIME Councilperson!' The Ward 3 seat, which was made vacant in June when Democrat Elizabeth Gibbs resigned after six years on the job, will be up for grabs in a special election this November to fill the remainder of Gibbs' three-year term, which she was elected to last year. Mayor Wendell Hughes was given 30 days from July 1 to find and nominate a replacement for Gibbs through the rest of 2025. 'This was nothing I planned on doing,' Hughes said in June after news of Gibbs' resignation was announced in June. 'If somebody told me I would be replacing Elizabeth Gibbs, I would have argued all day, but I'm happy for her as a friend. She's a friend of mine, and I respect her a lot.' Gibbs' successor was made public Wednesday when the city of Plattsburgh shared that Hughes is expected to appoint resident Jackie Strack to the vacant Ward 3 seat through the end of 2025 at the Common Council meeting at 5:30 p.m. Thursday. Chaney and Strack now appear poised for a November General Election face-off. Solve the daily Crossword
Dominion Post
16-07-2025
- Sport
- Dominion Post
Post 2 downs Buckhannon 5-2 to begin Area 2 tournament, faces Bridgeport Wednesday
MORGANTOWN – First-year head coach Jacob Goodknight enjoyed the resiliency of his players on Tuesday night as Morgantown Post 2 opened postseason play with a solid 5-2 victory over Buckhannon Post 7. Mason Chaney led Morgantown, going 3 for 3 at the plate with an RBI and a run scored. UHS graduate Daniel Grabo added a pair of hits while his classmate Tommy Montague tossed 2.2 innings of two-hit baseball to close the deal. With the victory, Post 2 advances to the 1-0 game of the Area 2 tournament to battle Bridgeport Post 68 Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. Bridgeport defeated Clarksburg Post 13 5-2 in the opening game of the tournament. 'I loved the fight from our guys after letting a couple of runs early and actually falling behind at one point,' Goodknight said. 'They sort of small-balled us to death and forced some mistakes from us, but we came right back and put two runs up ourselves. Like we told them, in postseason play the goal is to go 1-0 every single day, every single game.' Post 2 starter Jack Bryner allowed the first two runners to reach base but earned three straight strikeouts to close the top half of the opening inning. Morgantown took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second on an infield error, but Buckhannon punched back in the top of the third with two runs to steal the lead. Post 2 tied the game in the same inning on a sacrifice fly by Nate Wolfe that scored Chaney. Bryner used only 11 pitches to exit the top of the fourth, giving his offense the much-needed confidence boost it needed entering the bottom half. Parker Jeffries singled with one out, and Brance McCune followed with a shot to center that got past the outfield, allowing the go-ahead run to score as McCune took third. He scored on another sac fly (this time by Chaney) to double the lead at 4-2, and the final run came in the fifth as Grabo took home on a wild pitch. 'Mason (Chaney) has stepped up for us on and off the field,' Goodknight said. 'We're up three, and he hits a ball in the infield but beats it out for a single on bad knees. That just shows the heart he has. After the game, he's in the dugout, making sure everyone leaves as a team together. All we ask of them is to play hard and play for each other.' Post 2 will have a quick 24-hour turnaround against a talented Bridgeport roster. The winner will advance to play Thursday in the Area 2 championship and will hold the advantage of having a 2-0 record, needing to lose twice to be eliminated. 'Every day we try to emphasize the little things and do those right,' Goodknight said. 'It doesn't matter who we play, we are trying to go out there to win every game. We know teams are going to try to manufacture runs against us, so we need to remain focused on our goals at all times and how we can achieve those.'
