Latest news with #Peter Kyle
The Guardian
04-08-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Monday briefing: Why opponents of the Online Safety Act aren't ‘on Jimmy Savile's side'
Good morning. Any readers who have tried to visit a pornography site in the past week (don't worry, I won't tell anyone) will have come into contact with the Online Safety Act. One of the most controversial elements is that there are now firm checks to ensure those who access these sites from the UK are over 18. But it goes much further than regulating porn. This legislation is an overhaul of how we live online in the UK, and a growing list of sites – including gaming platforms and social networks – will verify people's ages before letting them through the digital gates. For years people have been raising alarms about the damage the online world does to our kids. The act beefs up hate speech laws and gives regulators greater powers to hold tech platforms accountable for failing to act on abusive or threatening content. It seems like an obvious win. Peter Kyle, the science and technology secretary, said anyone who wants to overturn the act is on the side of predators. 'It's as simple as that', he wrote on X. But is it? On Saturday human rights organisations warned about censorship of Gaza-related content. Smearing all critics is shortsighted, and legitimate criticisms from human rights groups should be taken seriously, says Madeleine Stone, senior advocacy officer at Big Brother Watch, which campaigns for civil liberties and privacy. I spoke to her about concerns around data collection and free speech. That's after the headlines. Israel-Gaza war | At least 27 people were killed by Israeli forces while trying to get food and six others died from starvation or malnutrition in Gaza on Sunday, Palestinian officials said. UK news | Millions of drivers could be handed a share of up to £18bn in compensation, after the Financial Conduct Authority said it would open a redress scheme for consumers affected by the car finance scandal. Gaza | The government has announced it will evacuate seriously ill and injured children from Gaza to the UK for NHS treatment under a scheme to be announced within weeks. Immigration | Ministers will spend an extra £100m on measures to deter Channel crossings, including on the planned 'one in, one out' returns agreement with France, the Home Office has said. Plastics | Plastics are a 'grave, growing and under-recognised danger' to human and planetary health, a new expert review has warned. The world is in a 'plastics crisis', it concluded, which is causing disease and death from infancy to old age and is responsible for at least $1.5tn (£1.1tn) a year in health-related damages. As of 25 July, websites and apps are required to protect children by filtering out harmful content and verifying ages. Failing to regulate content could lead to hefty fines, criminal charges or even being entirely blocked in the UK. In case you missed it, Aamna did a great explainer about this last week. Kyle said it was 'the biggest step forward for a young person's experience online since the internet was created' and that a whole generation of children had been exposed to 'torrid toxic material' because of the failure of politicians. He took aim at politicians like Reform leader, Nigel Farage, who oppose the law: 'Make no mistake if people like Jimmy Savile were alive today he would be perpetrating his crimes online - and Nigel Farage is saying he is on their side.' Inevitably, there was a backlash to Kyle's comments. 'I don't want it to be framed like we're in opposition to the children's rights group, or that we don't think that there are risks to children online. Of course, there are,' says Stone. 'I don't think anyone would deny that there are good intentions behind this bill.' However, Stone believes that there are ways to keep children safe online that don't require uploading scans of our faces or IDs to potentially porous tech companies, thus triggering legitimate privacy concerns. She said it was disappointing the main calls from Labour and the opposition have been for it to be as comprehensive as possible – and that there wasn't much discussion about civil liberties. Meanwhile, Reform UK has promised to repeal the act if it gets into office, describing it as 'borderline dystopian', as it becomes a rallying point for the right in both Britain and the US. What are the data concerns with the act? Much of the focus has been on porn sites but social media, forums, gaming platforms and other sites that could show content considered harmful for children are also now required to verify that users are aged 18 or older. Using methods such as photo-ID matching, AI facial age estimation, credit and debit card checks, mobile operator verification, open banking and digital ID wallets, this is a massive undertaking. Already 5m extra online age checks a day (yes, every day) are being carried out in the UK since the introduction of age-gating for pornography sites alone, according to new data from the Age Verification Providers Association (AVPA). This legislation, which applies to more than 100,000 companies, includes major platforms like Facebook, Google, X, Reddit, OnlyFans (and other less established sites that you might not wish to trust with your personal data). The public is having to choose between 'not being able to freely access the internet, or handing over huge troves of personal data to a series of third party companies, which is open to hacking, to data breaches and data theft,' says Stone. What are the risks of companies having this data? Big Brother Watch is concerned that taking this additional data from people creates databases of sensitive information that would be devastating for individuals if it was hacked, leaked or stolen. Stone says: 'This broad spectrum of third party companies will be holding some of the most personal data about you, and then that will be linked to your internet browsing. And that can be very dangerous.' She highlights particular concerns for LGBTQ+ people – with commonly used dating sites like Grindr and Scruff requiring checks – people who are victims of domestic violence or stalking, whistleblowers, and journalists. There is an ecosystem of companies involved in getting access to people's data – companies that are being forced to undertake the checks, and then the companies that are providing the technology to do those checks. 'It only takes one dodgy age verification website to leak someone's data,' says Stone. Some have suggested that the government could regulate age, instead of outsourcing this regulation to third-party companies. 'I think the flip side of that is, do you want the government to have a record of who's using porn sites … As we know the government is not great with data leaks and breaches. I think there's not really a good option here if you're thinking about collecting that deeply personal data.' What are key concerns about free speech? Human rights organisations have warned that the Online Safety Act together with the proscription of Palestine Action could result in platforms censoring Palestinian-related content. Open Rights Group, Index on Censorship and others wrote to Ofcom calling on it to provide clear guidance to platforms on distinguishing lawful expression from content deemed to be in support of terrorism. Their concern is that crucial public debate is threatened by vague laws that could lead to content about Palestine being removed or hidden online. Stone argues that the act has been drafted in an 'overly broad way' which means that legitimate political, cultural and societal discussions could be restricted. 'We're seeing political speech being taken down, as with content related to Gaza. We're seeing support groups, sites for people with alcohol problems or people who've been sexually assaulted being blocked as well,' she says. Blocking children from accessing support groups like this is a major unintended consequence, and the very opposite of the Jimmy Savile comparisons that Peter Kyle leveled at opponents of the act. 'It's so important that we're able to have those discussions,' Stone says. 'You know, the internet has become our new kind of town square,' describing attempts to control these discussions as a 'dark place for a democracy to be in'. She adds: 'That content might not always be super pleasant, but it is still legally protected free speech. There is real importance in being able to have those discussions and change people's minds.' What alternatives are there? Stone describes the Online Safety Act as a 'failure of imagination', saying that it fails to 'properly get to grips with the problems at the heart of social media companies'. She says a big part of the problem is children spending hours online looking at content that is not healthy for them. By taking data, social media platforms can create more highly personalised predictions about what we're interested in. 'You're sucked into dangerous loopholes. And that is a big part of the problem here - spending hours and hours and hours online,' says Stone. Earlier this year a study found almost half of young people would rather live in a world where the internet does not exist. The research found nearly 70% of 16- to 21-year-olds feel worse about themselves after spending time on social media. A quarter of respondents spent four or more hours a day on social media. 'At Big Brother Watch, we've called for a ban on micro targeted advertising and the proper enforcement of data protection law that would really cut off at the knees some of these really intrusive business models,' says Stone. 'If we're not paying for something, then we are the product.' 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 This Today In Focus episode features Pulitzer-winning Caroline Fraser, who discusses her investigation into whether lead-polluted air triggered a surge in male serial killers in the US. Anandita Abraham, newsletters team Fascinating Sunday read by Robyn Vinter on the men who received prison sentences for their role in last summer's riots after the Southport murders. Many talk about mistrust in authority and the media, but each has their own story to tell. Phoebe Simon Jenkins thinks that Trump's soft spot for beauty and classical architecture is worth appreciating. The argument that 'aesthetic sensitivity' in politicians should be welcomed was an enjoyable take. Anandita A heartwarming read about a mountaineering project in Switzerland that brings refugees together to climb 4,000-metre peaks. It started with just a handful of people and now 200 are involved. Phoebe Dr Lina Qasem-Hassan, a Palestinian doctor and protagonist of the latest Guardian documentary film The Oath, writes in this powerful opinion piece, 'the situation in Gaza, and the position we are in as doctors, has only worsened – day by day, hour by hour'. Katy Vans, newsletters team Cricket | The fifth test heads into the fifth day, after rain brought the proceedings to a halt on day four, with England still needing 35 runs to claim the series. Formula One | Lando Norris won the Hungarian Grand Prix after a strategic battle to beat his McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri into second. Golf | The final round of the Women's Open at Royal Porthcawl has delivered one of the most extraordinary moments in modern major history after the English golfer Mimi Rhodes produced a hole-in-one. 'Millions in line for payouts over car finance mis-selling scandal,' is the splash on the Guardian today, while the Times has similar with: 'Millions of drivers in line for £950 payout over car finance scandal.' 'Asbestos kills more troops than Taliban,' writes the Mail, while the Telegraph leads with, 'Palestine Action plot to swamp police.' ''An extra £100m will NOT stop the boats'' is the focus over at the Express. At the FT, the splash is 'US data row builds as poorest workers take hardest hit from wages slowdown.' 'Charge VAT on private health schemes to fund NHS, Kinnock tells Reeves,' says the i, while the Mirror runs with: 'You are all heroes,' in reference to the end of a blood donor crisis. The Tesla whistleblower and the cost of taking on Elon Musk Investigative journalist Sönke Iwersen describes his years-long investigation into Tesla, aided by a whistleblower, exposing serious safety concerns over the company's cars. Cartoon of the day | Edith Pritchett A bit of good news to remind you that the world's not all bad A new UK civil service internship is open only to working-class students, which is about time for the enormous bureaucratic industry, in which only one in ten successful applicants come from the lowest income backgrounds. Hopefully the program will go some way to fix this disparity, with 200 undergraduates being offered the opportunity to work in a civil service department. Applications open this October. 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 Sun
01-08-2025
- Politics
- The Sun
Trump's team ‘concerned' after it emerged a secret Government unit silenced critics of migrant hotels
DONALD Trump's team are 'greatly concerned' after it emerged a secret Government unit silenced critics of migrant hotels. Staff working for Technology Secretary Peter Kyle asked social media firms to remove posts critical of asylum hotels and 'two-tier policing'. 2 Tech giants, including TikTok, were warned the posts were 'exacerbating tensions' on the streets after the Southport riots. A US State Department spokesman said: 'President Trump has taken a strong stand defending free speech. "We are monitoring developments in the UK closely and with great concern.' Nigel Farage this week demanded an apology after the TEch Secretary sensationally claimed he is "on the side" of paedos like Jimmy Savile. Peter Kyle sparked a blazing row by alleging the Reform Party leader's vow to repeal online safety laws amounts to backing predators gaining access to children. Mr Kyle declared: 'If Jimmy Savile were alive today, he'd be perpetrating his crimes online. "And Nigel Farage is saying he's on their side.' Furious at the inflammatory accusation, Mr Farage hit back, branding the comments "disgusting" and demanding a retraction. He fumed: "Peter Kyle's comments on Sky News are disgusting. "He should do the right thing and apologise." However, the Tech Secretary refused to back down, stating: "If you want to overturn the Online Safety Act you are on the side of predators. "It is as simple as that."
Yahoo
25-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Judge us by impact of new online safety measures for children, says regulator
Parents and children can expect to 'experience a different internet for the first time', according to the Technology Secretary as new safety measures came into effect. Peter Kyle said he had 'high expectations' for the changes, as the head of the regulator in charge of enforcement against social media platforms which do not comply urged the public to 'judge us by the impact we secure'. While some campaigners have welcomed the new protections – which include age checks to prevent children accessing pornography and other harmful content – others have branded them a 'sticking plaster'. Charities and other organisations working in the sector of children's safety have agreed the key will be ensuring the measures are enforced, urging Ofcom to 'show its teeth'. The changes also require platforms to ensure algorithms do not work to harm children by, for example, pushing such content on the likes of self harm and eating disorders towards them. Actions which could be taken against firms which fail to adhere to the new codes include fines of up to £18 million or 10% of qualifying worldwide revenue, whichever is greater, and court orders potentially blocking access in the UK. Mr Kyle has said a generation of children will not be allowed to grow up 'at the mercy of toxic algorithms' as he pledged the Government is laying the foundations for a safer, healthier, more humane online world and warned tech firms 'will be held to account' if they fail to act in line with the changes. He told Sky News: 'I have very high expectations of the change that children will experience. 'And let me just say this to parents and children, you will experience a different internet really, for the first time in from today, moving forward than you've had in the past. And that is a big step forward.' The measures, as part of the Online Safety Act and set to be enforced by regulator Ofcom, require online platforms to have age checks – using facial age estimation or credit card checks – if they host pornography or other harmful content such as self-harm, suicide or eating disorders. Ofcom chief executive Dame Melanie Dawes said the regulator's research had shown half a million eight to 14-year-olds have come across pornography online in the last month alone. When it was put to her by the BBC that one of their staff members testing out the new measures had been able to sign up to a well-known porn site on Friday using just an email address, she said sites will be 'checking patterns of email use' behind the scenes to verify users are adults. She told Radio 4's Today programme: 'We've shown that we've got teeth and that we're prepared to use them at Ofcom. And we have secured commitments across the porn industry and from the likes of X that no other country has secured. These things can work. 'Judge us by the impact we secure. And absolutely, please do tell us if you think there's something we need to know about that isn't working because the law is very clear now.' She also said the Government is right to be considering limits on the amount of time children can spend on social media apps. Earlier this week, Mr Kyle said he wanted to tackle 'compulsive behaviour' and ministers are reportedly considering a two-hour limit, with curfews also under discussion. Dame Melanie told LBC: 'I think the Government is right to be opening up this question. I think we're all a bit addicted to our phones, adults and children, obviously particularly a concern for young people. So, I think it's a good thing to be moving on to.' Children's charities the NSPCC and Barnardo's are among those who have welcomed the new checks in place from Friday, as well as the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF). The IWF warned the 'safeguards put in place need to be robust and meaningful' and said there is 'still more to be done', as they urged tech platforms to to build in safeguards rather than having them as 'an afterthought'. The Molly Rose Foundation – set up by bereaved father Ian Russell after his 14-year-old daughter Molly took her own life having viewed harmful content on social media – said there is a 'lack of ambition and accountability' in the measures, and accused the regulator of choosing to 'prioritise the business needs of big tech over children's safety'. Andy Burrows, chief executive of the foundation, told Sky News: 'We've always had a very simple test for the Online Safety Act, will it stop further young people like Molly from dying because of the harmful design of social media platforms? 'And regrettably, we just don't think it passes that test. This is a sticking plaster, not the comprehensive solution that we really need.' Ofcom said it has also launched a monitoring and impact programme focused on some of the platforms where children spend most time including social media sites Facebook, Instagram and TikTok, gaming site Roblox and video clip website YouTube. The sites are among those which have been asked to submit, by August 7, a review of their efforts to assess risks to children and, by September 30, scrutiny of the practical actions they are taking to keep children safe.
