Latest news with #UK-based
The Star
2 hours ago
- Business
- The Star
Australia social media teen ban software trial organisers say the tech works
FILE PHOTO: Two school students pose with their mobile showing social media applications in Melbourne, Australia, November 28, 2024. REUTERS/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake/File Photo SYDNEY (Reuters) -Some age-checking applications collect too much data and no product works 100% of the time, but using software to enforce a teenage social media ban can work in Australia, the head of the world's biggest trial of the technology said on Friday. The view from the government-commissioned Age Assurance Technology Trial of more than 1,000 Australian school students and hundreds of adults is a boost to the country's plan to keep under 16s off social media. From December, in a world first ban, companies like Facebook and Instagram owner Meta, Snapchat and TikTok must prove they are taking reasonable steps to block young people from their platforms or face a fine of up A$49.5 million ($32 million). Since the Australian government announced the legislation last year, child protection advocates, tech industry groups and children themselves have questioned whether the ban can be enforced due to workarounds like Virtual Private Networks, which obscure an internet user's location. "Age assurance can be done in Australia privately, efficiently and effectively," said Tony Allen, CEO of the Age Check Certification Scheme, the UK-based organisation overseeing the Australian trial. The trial found "no significant tech barriers" to rolling out a software-based scheme in Australia, although there was "no one-size-fits-all solution, and no solution that worked perfectly in all deployments," Allen added in an online presentation. Allen noted that some age-assurance software firms "don't really know at this stage what data they may need to be able to support law enforcement and regulators in the future. "There's a risk there that they could be inadvertently over-collecting information that wouldn't be used or needed." Organisers of the trial, which concluded earlier this month, gave no data findings and offered only a broad overview which did not name individual products. They will deliver a report to the government next month which officials have said will inform an industry consultation ahead of the December deadline. A spokesperson for the office of the eSafety Commissioner, which will advise the government on how to implement the ban, said the preliminary findings were a "useful indication of the likely outcomes from the trial. "We are pleased to see the trial suggests that age assurance technologies, when deployed the right way and likely in conjunction with other techniques and methods, can be private, robust and effective," the spokesperson said. The Australian ban is being watched closely around the world with several governments exploring ways to limit children's exposure to social media. ($1 = 1.5427 Australian dollars) (Additional reporting by Cordelia Hsu; Editing by Kate Mayberry)
Straits Times
2 hours ago
- Business
- Straits Times
Australia social media teen ban software trial organisers say the tech works
SYDNEY - Some age-checking applications collect too much data and no product works 100% of the time, but using software to enforce a teenage social media ban can work in Australia, the head of the world's biggest trial of the technology said on Friday. The view from the government-commissioned Age Assurance Technology Trial of more than 1,000 Australian school students and hundreds of adults is a boost to the country's plan to keep under 16s off social media. From December, in a world first ban, companies like Facebook and Instagram owner Meta, Snapchat and TikTok must prove they are taking reasonable steps to block young people from their platforms or face a fine of up A$49.5 million ($32 million). Since the Australian government announced the legislation last year, child protection advocates, tech industry groups and children themselves have questioned whether the ban can be enforced due to workarounds like Virtual Private Networks, which obscure an internet user's location. "Age assurance can be done in Australia privately, efficiently and effectively," said Tony Allen, CEO of the Age Check Certification Scheme, the UK-based organisation overseeing the Australian trial. The trial found "no significant tech barriers" to rolling out a software-based scheme in Australia, although there was "no one-size-fits-all solution, and no solution that worked perfectly in all deployments," Allen added in an online presentation. Allen noted that some age-assurance software firms "don't really know at this stage what data they may need to be able to support law enforcement and regulators in the future. "There's a risk there that they could be inadvertently over-collecting information that wouldn't be used or needed." Organisers of the trial, which concluded earlier this month, gave no data findings and offered only a broad overview which did not name individual products. They will deliver a report to the government next month which officials have said will inform an industry consultation ahead of the December deadline. A spokesperson for the office of the eSafety Commissioner, which will advise the government on how to implement the ban, said the preliminary findings were a "useful indication of the likely outcomes from the trial. "We are pleased to see the trial suggests that age assurance technologies, when deployed the right way and likely in conjunction with other techniques and methods, can be private, robust and effective," the spokesperson said. The Australian ban is being watched closely around the world with several governments exploring ways to limit children's exposure to social media. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Hindustan Times
5 hours ago
- General
- Hindustan Times
F'bad govt school among world's top 10 major feat: Mahipal Dhanda
Haryana education minister Mahipal Dhanda on Thursday said that the Government Girls Senior Secondary School (GGSSS), NIT-5, Faridabad, has been named among the top 10 finalists for the World's Best School Prizes 2025, an honour shared by only four schools from India. These prestigious awards were instituted by T4 Education, a UK-based organisation operating in over 100 countries, in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic. 'This achievement is an inspiration for government schools across the state. It proves that government schools have the potential to shine on the global stage,' Dhanda said. He added that the recognition of the Faridabad school serves as a guiding light for others and will motivate more government schools to innovate and prioritise student welfare. The GGSSS, NIT-5 Faridabad, has been shortlisted under the 'Supporting Healthy Lives' category of the World's Best School Prizes 2025, by T4 Education, working to empower teachers, school leaders and education systems worldwide. Other Indian schools in the top 10 list include Zila Parishad School, Jalinder Nagar (Pune, Maharashtra); Ekya School, JP Nagar (Karnataka); and Delhi Public School, Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh).
Irish Independent
5 hours ago
- Business
- Irish Independent
Big increase in winter flights at Dublin Airport expected after cap suspended
The number of seats that will be available on flights in and out of the capital will rise to just under 17.9 million for the season, a 23pc increase on last winter. Last winter, just under 14.4 million seats were set to be made available by carriers as the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) decided to limit numbers to ensure Dublin Airport adhered to its annual 32 million passenger cap. While the number available next winter is expected to shoot back up to 17.9 million, that is still below the near 18.4 million that were being made available for winter 2023-2024. Aer Lingus intends to have more than 4.7 million seats available this winter. That's 560,000 more than last winter. Ryanair will have 7.54 million, compared with the 6.25 million it had last season. Other international operators, from Gulf carriers Emirates and Etihad to US airlines including United, Delta and American, will have hundreds of thousands of extra seats available between them. Dublin Airport's passenger cap is due to a planning condition attached in 2007 to the construction of Terminal 2. However, this year Dublin Airport will handle about 36.3 million passengers, following decisions by the High Court that effectively paused the cap while certain matters related to aircraft take-off and landing slot allocations are being examined by the European Court of Justice. It is not likely to deliver a ruling on those matters until summer next year. Dublin Airport's slots are managed by UK-based firm Airport Coordination. Its initial co-ordination report for the coming winter period, which covers October 26 to March 28 next year, shows the dramatic increase in the planned seat availability now that the IAA cannot, for the time being at least, limit the number at Dublin Airport. The report shows there was demand for 103,020 take-off and landing slots for the season, with 102,754 allocated. New slots for the period were requested by a slew of airlines, from Aer Lingus and Ryanair, to Hainan Airlines, Emirates and Etihad. Ryanair remains by far the biggest operator at Dublin Airport for the season, with 39pc of allocated slots for the winter. Aer Lingus has 23pc. Emerald Airlines, which operates the Aer Lingus Regional service, has just under 13pc. The largest non-Irish long-haul carrier out of Dublin is United Airlines, with 1,080 slots for the winter, followed by Emirates and Qatar Airways. The report from Airport Coordination notes that some new destinations which intended to be operated next winter include routes to Albania's capital, Tirana, as well as to Rabat in Morocco and a direct service to Derry. The Government has pledged to have the cap removed. While Transport Minister Darragh O'Brien has suggested legislation will be brought forward in the autumn to address the cap, it could take some time before it is removed. Dublin Airport is set for its busiest ever summer, with passenger numbers expected to surpass 10 million for the season. It expects to have a number of days where passenger numbers will significantly exceed 100,000.
Shafaq News
6 hours ago
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Israeli airstrike targets fortified site in Tehran
Shafaq News/ Israel's air force struck a heavily fortified facility in northeast Tehran overnight Thursday, Israeli media reported. The strikes hit the Lavizan district, an area previously flagged in intelligence assessments as hosting key Iranian military and decision-making infrastructure linked to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei's military office and senior aides. Iran International, a UK-based opposition outlet, had reported that Khamenei had relocated to an underground bunker in Lavizan alongside close family members, including his son Mojtaba, directing operations through a tight inner circle. Earlier, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hinted at targeting Iran's leadership. 'I gave instructions that no one is immune,' he stated, referencing Khamenei. 'All the options are open. It's best not to speak about this in the press.' His remarks followed Defense Minister Israel Katz's call to intensify strikes 'deep inside Iran' and his demand for 'the elimination of Khamenei.' The airstrike came amid continued cross-border attacks now entering their second week, after Israel's surprise attack on Iran. Iran's latest wave caused severe damage in Tel Aviv and Beersheba, injuring 271 people, according to Israeli Channel 12.
