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Daily Mirror
13 hours ago
- Politics
- Daily Mirror
Ban social media for kids and give them 'dumbphones' says counter terror expert
Jonathan Hall KC, the UK's Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Legislation, pointed to the case of a teen who wanted to copy Southport monster Axel Rudakubana and urged ministers to 'be bold' Giving kids "dumbphones" and banning them from social media is the only way to steer them away from extreme violence online, a counter-terror expert has said. Jonathan Hall urged ministers to "be bold" and bring in an Australian-style ban. He warned that age verification and new laws around algorithms will not be enough to stop teenagers like Southport killer Axel Rudakubana. He said in one recent case a teenager "wanted to copy" Rudakubana after being inspired online. Mr Hall, the UK's Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Legislation and State Threat Legislation, told LBC children "have got to stop using social media". He said that although the Online Safety Act will achieve "precious little" because of the magnitude of threats kids face online. He said: "They've got to deal with child sex abuse, suicide videos, self-harm. By the time they get to just straightforward gory violence and terrorism material or knives, it's going to be some way down the line. "So I think you have to be realistic about this. I mean, if you want my honest answer, and I've looked at this topic for a long time now, I think that children have got to stop using social media, full stop." He pointed to Australia's decision to outlaw social media use for under 16s. This will come into force in December. He also suggested that children should have "dumbphones" - the opposite of smartphones, which are used for calls and texting and little else. Mr Hall said: "I think we need to go down the line that Australia has pioneered. I mean, in my dreams, we would just have kids with dumb phones and a few apps, and that would be distributed on the NHS. And if the government was really bold, they would grasp this bull by the horns. But I'm afraid the Online Safety Act is not going to be the solution." Warning of the dangers of online violence, he said: "I mean, there was some boy arrested recently he wanted to copy the Southport killer. I mean, unbelievable. They get all this from the internet." He said counter-terror officers are increasingly focused on " violence fixated individuals" like Rudakubana. The killer was 17 when he murdered three girls and seriously injured a further 10 people including eight children in a senseless attack in Southport. He had been referred to the Prevent programme three times in the years before the killings. As a schoolboy he showed an alarming fascination with the Manchester Arena bombing, the IRA, mass shootings and the 2017 London Bridge attack. But a string of errors led to his case being discontinued. Describing those at risk of becoming dangeorusly fixated with violence, Mr Hall said: "I think it's lonely and lost children. "I mean, look at the Southport killer, for example. Look at Nicholas Prosper (who killed his mother and two siblings and planned to murder around 30 at his former school in Luton). "Do you remember he's the boy who kills three family members and was also planning a school massacre, I should say but were fortunately stopped from doing it.."
The National
15 hours ago
- The National
Police probe 'assault' after Tommy Robinson 'filmed at St Pancras'
British Transport Police confirmed the probe had been launched after 'reports of an assault' at St Pancras station in the UK capital at around 8.40pm on Monday, July 28. Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, had posted on social media showing himself at the station earlier on Monday. Video shared on social media by other accounts allegedly showed Lennon at the station next to a man laying on the floor and saying: 'He f***ing come at me.' READ MORE: Scottish school under fire for pipe band performance for Donald Trump A statement from the British Transport Police said: "Officers were called to St Pancras station just after 8.40pm yesterday [Monday] following reports of an assault. "Officers attended and a man was taken to hospital with serious injuries, which are not thought to be life threatening. "Overnight the investigation has been ongoing and officers have been making arrest enquiries. "Anyone with information or who witnessed what happened can text 61016 quoting reference 655 of 28 July." One witness told LBC they had seen 'around eight police vehicles' outside the station, adding: "I saw an unconscious man being worked on by paramedics – they erected curtains around him.'
Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Business
- Daily Mirror
Chancellor Rachel Reeves dismisses Donald Trump's 'con job' wind turbine claim
Chancellor Rachel Reeves insisted on Monday building solar farms was essential to create 'homegrown energy' in the UK - stopping reliance on imports from Putin's Russia Rachel Reeves has dismissed Donald Trump' s claim that wind turbines are a "con job" - as the US President said they ruin the view from his golf courses. The Chancellor insisted on Monday that building solar farms was essential to create "homegrown energy" in the UK - stopping reliance on imports from Putin's Russia. She said "never again can we have the boot of Putin on our neck, which was the experience after Russia invaded Ukraine and energy bills went through the roof". It came as Mr Trump, who is visiting his golf courses in Scotland this week, launched into a rant about the use of windmills - saying he will not allow them to be built in the US. The US President said: "They are killing the beauty of our scenery, our valleys, our beautiful plains... you look up and you see windmills all over the place, it's a horrible thing. "It's the most expensive form of energy, it's no good." He added: 'The whole thing is a con job. It's very expensive... but more important than that is it ruins the landscape, it kills the birds, they are noisy. "Today I'm playing I think the best [golf] course in the world, Turnberry... and I look over the horizon and I see nine windmills, I said 'isn't that a shame, what a shame'". But asked by LBC about the comments, the Chancellor Ms Reeves said on Monday: "We've seen from the last few years and Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine that we've got to build our own homegrown energy infrastructure here in Britain. "That includes solar farms, it includes onshore and offshore wind, because never again can we have the boot of Putin on our neck, which was the experience after Russia invaded Ukraine and energy bills went through the roof. "That is still having an impact on the cost of living, and investment in clean, homegrown energy, boosts our security, brings jobs to Britain and ultimately brings down bills for working people, and that's the policies that we are pursuing as a government. The US President has previously rallied against the use of wind turbines close to his golf course. Just last week he told European countries to "stop the windmills". Over the weekend Mr Trump was seen on his Turnberry golf course in South Ayrshire, being transported between holes in a motorcade of 26 golf carts and one small secret service vehicle. His son Eric was with him on the course.
Daily Record
2 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Record
Livingston MP calls for chat platform that's a 'magnet for predators' to be banned
Gregor Poynton's remarks came as new Online Safety Codes were introduced Livingston's MP has called for the banning of an online chat platform for young people which he claims is failing to keep users safe from online predators. Gregor Poynton, who is Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Children's Online Safety, called for the Wizz app to be banned in the UK following mounting evidence that it is being used by predators to groom and exploit children. At least two UK child sexual abuse cases have been linked to the platform. His remarks came following an investigation by London-based talk radio station LBC. A 22-year-old reporter was able to bypass age verification on the app and pose as a teenager to access profiles of children as young as 14, and exposed how the app was failing to keep young users safe. The Wizz app, marketed as a teen social platform, claims to restrict interactions to users of similar ages and use facial recognition tools for verification. However, the investigation revealed that these safeguards can be easily bypassed. Gregor Poynton MP said: 'Wizz is clearly a magnet for predators, a place where abuse is already happening. 'It's not enough to tweak the technology or add disclaimers. There is no legitimate purpose for an app like this. It should be banned.' The Livingston constituency MP's comments came on the day landmark protections for children online come into force under new Ofcom-enforced rules introduced by the Labour UK Government. 'Our lives are no longer split between the online and offline world – and the harm done online can be just as devastating,' he said. 'We've now got some of the toughest laws anywhere in the world to protect kids online. But enforcement has to match ambition – and when apps like this fail to act, they should be banned.' Mr Poynton told LBC that the protections Wizz has in place are, 'not worth the paper they're written on.' He also raised broader concerns about the rise of apps with no social value but huge potential for harm, referencing so-called 'nudification' apps used in sextortion scams. He added: 'These apps serve no positive purpose. They don't enrich lives – they endanger them. Enough is enough.' The new Online Safety Codes require platforms to: Introduce robust age checks to block access to pornography, self-harm and other harmful material. Tackle toxic algorithms that feed children harmful content, from dangerous stunts to hate speech. Act fast to remove harmful content, with clear routes for reporting and complaints. Face serious penalties, including fines of up to £18 million or 10 per cent of global annual revenue, for non-compliance. Mr Poynton confirmed he would work cross-party in the autumn to review gaps in the legislation, particularly in light of emerging technologies like AI. 'Tech moves fast – but our response must be faster. If fines aren't enough, we'll legislate again. We owe it to our children to keep them safe.' Wizz has been approached for comment.
Libya Herald
2 days ago
- Business
- Libya Herald
LBC and Italian embassy discuss industrial zones, private sector initiatives, benefiting from Italian expertise and visas
The Libyan Business Council (LBC) and the Italian Embassy in Tripoli discussed developing industrial zones, the role of the private sector in supporting industrial initiatives and the possibility of benefiting from Italian expertise in this field. The discussions came during a meeting between Saeed Wanis, a member of the Board of the LBC, and Fabio Giudice the Commercial Attaché Italian Embassy in Tripoli last Wednesday (23 July). The meeting was held on the sidelines of an expanded meeting that included several LBC members and representatives of the Libyan Cooperative Company for the Management and Development of Industrial Zones at the headquarters of Mansoura Holding Company. Visa to Italy for LBC members During the meeting, Wanis affirmed the LBC's commitment to the development of Libyan Italian economic relations and the need to address the administrative and logistical challenges facing businessmen, especially the (perennial) issue of obtaining visas to enter Italy. For his part, according to the LBC, Giudice pointed out the importance of these demands and that he will make all necessary efforts to facilitate the procedures for granting visas to LBC members in a way that serves the economic and commercial movement at the level of the private sector. The LBC said the meeting comes in the context of the continuous efforts to strengthen economic relations between Libya and Italy and is part of a wider series of initiatives implemented by the LBC with the aim of expanding international cooperation and creating a more stable and open economic environment.
