Latest news with #IanRussell
Yahoo
04-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
'I'm running an Ironman Triathlon at 60'
While many of us will be taking advantage of the bank holiday weekend for a bit of rest and relaxation, one man will be in training to push his body to its limits. Ian Russell, an airline pilot from Hereford, is preparing to run his first Ironman Triathlon - at the age of 60. Generally considered one of the toughest one-day races in the world, the event sees competitors swim 2.4 miles (3.9km), cycle 112 miles (180.2km) and then run a full marathon of 26.2 miles (42.1km). "They use to say life begins at 40. Now, 60 is the new 40," said Mr Russell. Although Mr Russell was a keen sportsman when he was younger - he lists climbing Mont Blanc and the Matterhorn among his achievements - work and family commitments had an impact on how active he could be. He later took up running, before joining his local triathlon club. Inspired by some of his fellow members who had taken part, last autumn Mr Russell signed up to the Ironman event in Tenby, Pembrokeshire, this September. "What I didn't realise was that, although it's local and easy to get to, it's actually one of the toughest ones going," he said. Since then, Mr Russell has invested in a coach and trains "most days" - but has suffered a couple of setbacks. "I've had a big operation on my hand," he explained, "which took a few weeks to recover from. And then I broke my foot out training with the triathlon club. "That took a good six to eight weeks to recover from. "So I'm not starting from the best base." He said that, while he was training hard, he was avoiding pushing himself too much. "You might end up injuring yourself, which I can't afford now," he said. "So the idea is just to nurse my old creaking bag of bones through to get to the start line." Mr Russell added he was worried about making a cut off, of two hours 20 minutes, to complete the swim. "I'm definitely not a swimmer," he said. "If you don't make the cut off, you don't even get as far as the bike ride. "All my main part of my training in my mind is revolving around getting through the swimming part. So at least I can get on a bike and… let Mother Nature and tailwinds take their course." Despite this, the athlete said he had no regrets. "I'm proving that age is no barrier to setting bold goals and achieving them," he added. Follow BBC Hereford & Worcester on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram. Thousands 'face the dragon' at Ironman Wales 'World Ironman Championship will be a fun day out' Man with hole in neck to compete in triathlon Ironman
Business Mayor
27-04-2025
- Business Mayor
Overhaul algorithms and age checks or face fines, tech firms told
Websites will have to change the algorithms that recommend content to young people and introduce beefed-up age checks or face big fines, the UK media regulator has confirmed. Ofcom says its 'Children's Codes' – the final versions of which have now been published – will offer 'transformational new protections'. Platforms which host pornography, or offer content which encourages self-harm, suicide or eating disorders are among those which must take more robust action to prevent children accessing their content. Ofcom boss Dame Melanie Dawes said it was a 'gamechanger' but critics say the restrictions do not go far enough and were 'a bitter pill to swallow'. Ian Russell, chairman of the Molly Rose Foundation, which was set up in memory of his daughter – who took her own life aged 14 – said he was 'dismayed by the lack of ambition' in the codes. But Dame Melanie told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that age checks were a first step as 'unless you know where children are, you can't give them a different experience to adults. 'There is never anything on the internet or in real life that is fool proof… [but] this represents a gamechanger.' She admitted that while she was 'under no illusions' that some companies 'simply either don't get it or don't want to', but emphasised the Codes had legal force. 'If they want to serve the British public and if they want the privilege in particular in offering their services to under 18s, then they are going to need to change the way those services operate.' Prof Victoria Baines, a former safety officer at Facebook told the BBC it is 'a step in the right direction'. Talking to the Today Programme, she said: 'Big tech companies are really getting to grips with it , so they are putting money behind it, and more importantly they're putting people behind it.' Technology Secretary Peter Kyle said key to the rules was tackling the algorithms which decide what children get shown online. 'The vast majority of kids do not go searching for this material, it just lands in their feeds,' he told BBC Radio 5 Live. Kyle told The Telegraph he was separately looking into a social media curfew for under-16s, but would not 'act on something that will have a profound impact on every single child in the country without making sure that the evidence supports it'. The new rules for platforms are subject to parliamentary approval under the Online Safety Act. The regulator says they contain more than 40 practical measures tech firms must take, including: Algorithms being adjusted to filter out harmful content from children's feeds Robust age checks for people accessing age-restricted content Taking quick action when harmful content is identified Making terms of service easy for children to understand Giving children the option to decline invitations to group chats which may include harmful content Providing support to children who come across harmful content A 'named person accountable for children's safety' Management of risk to children reviewed annually by a senior body If companies fail to abide by the regulations, Ofcom said it has 'the power to impose fines and – in very serious cases – apply for a court order to prevent the site or app from being available in the UK.' Read More Google settles $5bn lawsuit for 'private mode' tracking Children's charity the NSPCC broadly welcomed the Codes, calling them 'a pivotal moment for children's safety online.' But they called for Ofcom to go further, especially when it came to private messaging apps which are often encrypted – meaning platforms cannot see what is being sent. READ SOURCE
Daily Mail
24-04-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
New online safety rules spark angry backlash from campaigners who say they will put children and danger and have put the profits of Big Tech firms first
New online safety rules put the profits of Big Tech firms ahead of children's safety, campaigners warned last night. In an angry backlash, parents and the Children's Commissioner said Ofcom 's long-awaited rules did not go far enough. The communications regulator insisted that young people would have 'safer online lives' under its final proposals to tackle legal but harmful content on websites, social media and apps. Ofcom said it had the power to fine technology firms up to £18 million or 10 per cent of their global revenue and can even seek court orders banning access to sites in the UK if they breach their duties under the landmark Online Safety Act. But children's safety campaigners said the codes of practice will not keep children safe from highly addictive apps and accused the watchdog of letting Big Tech firms off lightly. In a stinging rebuke, Children's Commissioner for England Dame Rachel de Souza said: 'I made it very clear last year that its proposals were not strong enough to protect children from the multitude of harms they are exposed to online every day. 'I am disappointed to see this code has not been significantly strengthened and seems to prioritise the business interests of technology companies over children's safety. 'I urge Ofcom to ensure online protections mirror what children have told me they want to see. I will be urgently expressing my concerns about the code with Ofcom.' Ian Russell, father of Molly Russell, who took her own life aged 14 after viewing harmful content online, added: 'I am dismayed by the lack of ambition in yesterday's codes. Instead of moving fast to fix things, the painful reality is that Ofcom's measures will fail to prevent more young deaths like my daughter's. 'Ofcom's risk-averse approach is a bitter pill for bereaved parents to swallow. Their overly cautious codes put the bottom line of reckless tech companies ahead of tackling preventable harm.' He told Times Radio he had 'pretty much lost trust' with Technology Secretary Peter Kyle, who was last month accused of cosying up to Big Tech chiefs on a trip to California. Mr Kyle yesterday championed the new rules as a 'watershed moment'. He said US tech firms 'must adhere to British laws' if they are to operate in the UK, before saying he had 'had the pleasure of visiting these companies' in their Silicon Valley bases. The Technology Secretary has been accused of being too close to the tech industry as Britain's creative industry fights Labour plans to give AI developers a copyright exemption on their works. It came as a group of British parents who believe social media played a part in the deaths of their children travelled to the US to demand better online safety protections. Four families flew to New York yesterday to protest with hundreds of others from the US and Canada outside the Manhattan offices of Meta – owner of Facebook and Instagram. 'All we're asking for is can you please help us protect our children,' said Mark Kenevan, father of Isaac who died aged 13 after taking part in a social media challenge. Children's Commissioner for England Dame Rachel de Souza said: 'I made it very clear last year that its proposals were not strong enough to protect children from the multitude of harms they are exposed to online every day Under Ofcom's new laws, companies will have to change the powerful algorithms that recommend videos – including pornography and material promoting suicide or eating disorders – to stop smartphone and computer users being sent down a rabbit hole of dangerous content. They will also have to introduce 'highly effective' checks to block under-18s accessing age-restricted sites and make it easier for children to control what they see and make complaints, in more than 40 measures that must be in place by July. The NSPCC said private messaging apps such as WhatsApp, where 'unmoderated content can spread like wildfire', continue to pose a 'major risk' under the current plans. And there are growing fears that the rules, which will have a major impact on those based in Silicon Valley, may be watered down still further as ministers desperately seek a US trade deal with Donald Trump. Liberal Democrat science spokesman Victoria Collins said: 'It's unbelievable that ministers are reportedly considering watering down online safety provisions to secure a bargain-basement Trump trade deal. This would be an unforgivable mis-step by the Labour Government.' Ofcom said: 'We don't recognise this characterisation of our rules which will be transformational in shaping a safer life online for children in the UK. Ofcom has been tasked with bringing about a safer generation of children online, and if companies fail to act they will face enforcement.' A No 10 spokesman said: 'We will keep listening and will not hesitate to strengthen the law further to ensure the safety of our children and the British public.'
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ofcom announces new rules for tech firms to protect children online
Social media platforms and websites will be legally required to protect children from accessing harmful content online or risk facing fines, the communications watchdog has said. Ofcom has published new regulations - known as the Children's Codes- that will require tech firms to instate age verification checks and change algorithm rcommendations to continue operating in the UK. Sites must adhere to the standards by 25 July. Any site which hosts pornography, or content which encourages self-harm, suicide or eating disorders must have robust age checks in place to protect children from accessing that content. Ofcom boss Dame Melanie Dawes says the codes will create "safer social media feeds". Some critics however say the restrictions don't go far enough, calling it a "bitter pill for bereaved parents to swallow". Ian Russell, Chair of the Molly Rose Foundation, which was set up in honour of his daughter who took her own life aged 14, said he was "dismayed by the lack of ambition" in the codes. But Prof Victoria Baines, a former safety officer at Facebook told the BBC it is "a step in the right direction". Talking to BBC Radio 4's Today Programme on Thursday, she said: "Big tech companies are really getting to grips with it , so they are putting money behind it, and more importantly they're putting people behind it." Under the Codes, algorithms must also be configured to filter out harmful content from children's feeds and recommendations. As well as the age checks, there will also be more streamlined reporting and complaints systems, and platforms will be required to take faster action in assessing and tackling harmful content when they are made aware if it. All platforms must also have a "named person accountable for children's safety", and the management of risk to children should be reviewed annually by a senior body. If companies fail to abide by the regulations put to them by 24 July, Ofcom said it has "the power to impose fines and – in very serious cases – apply for a court order to prevent the site or app from being available in the UK."
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ofcom announces new rules for tech firms to protect children online
Social media platforms and websites will be legally required to protect children from accessing harmful content online or risk facing fines, the communications watchdog has said. Ofcom has published new regulations - known as the Children's Codes- that will require tech firms to instate age verification checks and change algorithm rcommendations to continue operating in the UK. Sites must adhere to the standards by 25 July. Any site which hosts pornography, or content which encourages self-harm, suicide or eating disorders must have robust age checks in place to protect children from accessing that content. Ofcom boss Dame Melanie Dawes says the codes will create "safer social media feeds". Some critics however say the restrictions don't go far enough, calling it a "bitter pill for bereaved parents to swallow". Ian Russell, Chair of the Molly Rose Foundation, which was set up in honour of his daughter who took her own life aged 14, said he was "dismayed by the lack of ambition" in the codes. But Prof Victoria Baines, a former safety officer at Facebook told the BBC it is "a step in the right direction". Talking to BBC Radio 4's Today Programme on Thursday, she said: "Big tech companies are really getting to grips with it , so they are putting money behind it, and more importantly they're putting people behind it." Under the Codes, algorithms must also be configured to filter out harmful content from children's feeds and recommendations. As well as the age checks, there will also be more streamlined reporting and complaints systems, and platforms will be required to take faster action in assessing and tackling harmful content when they are made aware if it. All platforms must also have a "named person accountable for children's safety", and the management of risk to children should be reviewed annually by a senior body. If companies fail to abide by the regulations put to them by 24 July, Ofcom said it has "the power to impose fines and – in very serious cases – apply for a court order to prevent the site or app from being available in the UK."
