Latest news with #OnlineSafetyAct
The Herald Scotland
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Herald Scotland
Scotland's future according to politicians sounds bleak
From a lack of bold visions to talks of increasing misogyny, politicians weren't exactly awe-inspiring at an event on Scotland's future yesterday. Scotland 2050. An event you may think promises chat about flying cars and robots taking over our jobs. In earlier discussions there were certainly mentions of AI and technological change but the pull for Scottish political correspondents like me was politicians setting out their visions for Scotland in the future. This offered the likes of the First Minister and the Scottish Labour leader a chance to set out bold and ambitious plans. The need for politicians to do so is becoming all the more pressing. Recent studies such as the Youth Poll show that young people are losing faith in the political systems and are worried about their future. Yet, listening to politicians yesterday I was left more fearful and depressed about where we will be in 25 years. READ MORE: Why FM is suddenly talking about Scottish independence John Swinney looks to the past as he plans for the future The Herald's Unspun Live heads to the Edinburgh Fringe In conversation with Cherie Blair, Kate Forbes told us the "destructive nature" of social media "cannot be overstated". The deputy First Minister branded actor Rupert Everett's recent description of Nicola Sturgeon as a 'witch' as 'abhorrent' and 'totally misogynistic'. Ms Forbes went on to say that we have been talking about the issue of misogyny for the last six or seven years and 'it's only got worse in that time'. As commendable as it is for Ms Forbes to speak out against this, this reality may push more women, who fear the ever-growing threat of online abuse, away from public life. How we prevent this still remains uncertain with a preventative measure- the Online Safety Act - yet to be fully implemented. It's not as if political leaders are cloth-eared when it comes to paying heed to issues such as youth apathy. When Anas Sarwar began his keynote speech with talk of what sort of Scotland he wants to see for his 16 year-old son, he understood the assignment. The future is the younger generation. But then a myriad of questions followed. 'What does a prosperous, hopeful and thriving Scotland mean for the NHS, housing, workforce, skills, education etc?' he posed. 'Care to tell us, Mr Sarwar?', I thought. (Image: staff) Tickets for Unspun Live at the Edinburgh Fringe are available now — click here to book your place. Five minutes in, he spoke of using Scotland's 'maximum levers' to 'make it fit for future generations'. He's also said we need to 'do things differently' to achieve 'positive outcomes', as he mentioned cutting taxes. 'Tinkering around the edges is not going to work', he insisted. And I agreed but my brow furrowed as I tried to work out what his plans for a future Scotland were, away from abstract language... Setting out his vision, the First Minister spoke of the growing risks to democracy because of misinformation, more frequent conflicts, increasing inequalities and climate change. Although an impending reality it's not exactly the most stirring way to begin a speech on our future. 'The Scotland of 2050 will be shaped by a series of unpredictable forces', he warned as if leading an intergalactic space mission into the ominous unknown. For Mr Swinney, a prosperous future will ultimately be achieved through Scotland becoming an independent country and rejoining the EU. Yet with no clear strategy to achieve this, I cannot imagine his words are setting the heather alight amongst Indy supporters and others. After the speech, a former SNP MP told me the First Minister needs to be given space to set out his plans for a future Scotland. But with 11 months to go till voters head to the polls, politicians really need to unveil plans to inspire future generations soon. Although important to raise, nobody will be inspired by talk dominated by a 1984-esque dystopian world view full of Andrew Tate-bots that awaits us.
Malay Mail
2 days ago
- Politics
- Malay Mail
Fahmi: Malaysia's Online Safety Act to strengthen digital protections, enforcement expected soon
PUTRAJAYA, June 18 — The Online Safety Act 2024 is expected to be enforced soon after several key processes related to the legislation are finalised, according to Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil. Fahmi, who is also Madani Government spokesperson, said he is currently awaiting the draft of the Act from the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), which includes the regulations to be adopted. 'Once the draft is ready and I sign the gazette to enforce the Act, then it will come into effect,' he said at his weekly press conference today. Fahmi said that a committee will also be set up by the Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform), Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said, to oversee the implementation of the Act. 'This committee will have regulatory powers over the enforcement of the Act, such as defining what constitutes online harms,' he explained. Prior to this, Azalina said that the new law would come into force once the Communications Minister signs the enforcement order, enabling the government to act swiftly to remove illegal content. Under the Act, platform providers are also required to comply with specified duties of care. Azalina noted that while the Online Safety Act focuses on platform regulation and digital responsibilities, any issues involving children must be addressed within the framework of the Child Act 2001. In a related development, Fahmi said sign language interpreters will have increased involvement in key programmes to facilitate communication with persons with disabilities (PwD). 'Insya-Allah, I will strive to ensure that sign language interpreters are not only present during Communications Ministry press conferences but also in upcoming parliament sessions and other areas. We want to highlight the role of sign language interpreters,' he added. — Bernama
Barnama
2 days ago
- Politics
- Barnama
Online Safety Act Expected To Be Enforced Soon
PUTRAJAYA, June 18 (Bernama) -- The Online Safety Act 2024 is expected to be enforced soon after several key processes related to the legislation are finalised, according to Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil. Fahmi, who is also MADANI Government spokesperson, said he is currently awaiting the draft of the Act from the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), which includes the regulations to be adopted. 'Once the draft is ready and I sign the gazette to enforce the Act, then it will come into effect,' he said at his weekly press conference today. Fahmi said that a committee will also be set up by the Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform), Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said, to oversee the implementation of the Act. 'This committee will have regulatory powers over the enforcement of the Act, such as defining what constitutes online harms,' he explained. Prior to this, Azalina said that the new law would come into force once the Communications Minister signs the enforcement order, enabling the government to act swiftly to remove illegal content. Under the Act, platform providers are also required to comply with specified duties of care. Azalina noted that while the Online Safety Act focuses on platform regulation and digital responsibilities, any issues involving children must be addressed within the framework of the Child Act 2001. In a related development, Fahmi said sign language interpreters will have increased involvement in key programmes to facilitate communication with persons with disabilities (PwD).
The Star
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Star
PM pleased with LCS construction progress, says Fahmi
PUTRAJAYA: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is satisfied with the development of the first of five littoral combat ships (LCS) being built for the Royal Malaysian Navy, says government spokesman Datuk Fahmi Fadzil. He said this followed Anwar's visit to the Royal Malaysian Navy base in Lumut on Sunday (June 15). 'This achievement proves that despite earlier setbacks, these vessels are now being completed with the involvement of local engineers. 'The second ship is expected to be ready this year, and the third, the following year. "It's a milestone to be proud of,' Fahmi, who is also Communications Minister, told a post-Cabinet meeting press conference here on Wednesday (June 18). ALSO READ: PM reviews LCS progress at Lumut shipyard as construction reaches 72.4% He added that the Cabinet also discussed upgrading 30 schools in military camps nationwide. He said that during Anwar's visit to Lumut, it was announced that RM20mil would be allocated to enhance facilities in these schools. 'These schools do not fall under the Education Ministry's jurisdiction but are under the Defence Ministry. This move is expected to resolve longstanding issues faced by these institutions,' he added. Separately, he said ministers were also briefed on the draft of the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP) by Economy Ministry secretary-general Datuk Nor Azmie Diron. The plan is expected to be tabled in Parliament on July 28. 'All ministries have been asked to review the draft and provide feedback ahead of the tabling,' he said. ALSO READ: Anwar calls for bold education reforms ahead of 13th Malaysia Plan This will be the first Malaysia Plan presented under the current administration's leadership, he added. Regarding the Online Safety Act, Fahmi said he is awaiting a draft from the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) concerning several regulations under the proposed legislation. 'This includes definitions of what constitutes 'online harm'. 'Once signed, a committee will be formed by the Law Minister to monitor its enforcement," he said. He said the Bill is expected to move forward in the coming weeks. ALSO READ: Fahmi: Implementation of Online Safety Act will be clarified later On another matter, Fahmi said the government will ensure that revenue collected from the expanded sales and service tax (SST) will go to vital sectors such as education and healthcare. 'Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan will provide further clarification. 'While the people may have concerns, it's important to know that these funds are being channelled to improve public facilities, and we are taking action to combat misappropriation and corruption,' he said. Fahmi added that the government is also supporting the Malaysian deaf community, including ensuring the involvement of sign language interpreters not just at media events but also in future parliamentary sessions. He also congratulated a sign language interpreter from the community who recently received national recognition. Tan Lee Bee, a veteran interpreter, was conferred the Bintang Ahli Mangku Negara (AMN) by His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, earlier this month.
Metro
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Metro
Let this adult star take you through nooks and crannies of new online safety law
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video It's long, it's hard, and now one of the UK's most popular adult film stars has spent 26 minutes tackling it in a hotel room. We're talking, of course, about the Online Safety Act. The law, passed under the Tories two years ago, will soon dramatically change the way randy Brits access porn online. And Ivy Maddox is so keen for the public to pay attention to the ins and outs of the legislation, she spent almost half an hour reading every word of a government explainer out loud for a new video. Titled 'Coming Soon…', the short film is described as Ivy's most 'explicit' yet. It features the actress in a skimpy lace bodysuit, sitting on the edge of a hotel bed beside a hardback copy of the Act. Craig Munro breaks down Westminster chaos into easy to follow insight, walking you through what the latest policies mean to you. Sign up here. She warns viewers that the safe-for-work film they're about to watch will 'include some very big legal obligations', and asks them: 'Are you ready for full compliance?' It's quite a lot to get your chops around, but the meat of the matter is this: from July 25, all websites, apps and other online services hosting online material will need to have age checks in place. That will mean you may need to provide your email address, credit card details, or even a picture of your face to get access to your favourite porn site. If the owners fail to comply with the law, Ofcom can impose fines of up to £18 million or 10% of their qualifying worldwide revenue. Last month, Ofcom said 'most of the largest services' that produce their own porn content have already 'confirmed that they are implementing or have plans to implement age assurance imminently'. But Ivy thought it was important to get the word out there regardless. She told Metro: 'As someone who interacted with hardcore porn by accident when I was in school, I wouldn't want children to view my content – the same way I didn't want to when I was their age. More Trending 'I also thought age verification was an important topic to raise awareness of, as I know that, for the adult and sex worker industry, privacy and compliance are key.' The video was produced in partnership with age check provider Verifymy, which uses services such as email-based age estimation to tell businesses how old their users are. Ivy added: 'It's not my everyday content, but I'm always up for a challenge.' The full film is available to watch online at this link. Don't worry – you won't need to open Incognito mode. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Six chilling takeaways of 'damning' report into grooming gangs MORE: The Who legend Roger Daltrey, 81, reveals boozy knighthood celebrations MORE: 'Last major hurdle' of Brexit resolved by UK over Gibraltar and Spain
