Digital rights groups say more robust age verification requirements lack transparency.
Children will be better protected online under amended internet safety laws, the government insists, despite concerns around privacy.
Tech minister Paul Scully admitted "no bit of legislation is ever going to be perfect" but said it was "flexible". Age assurance tech is being "introduced in quite a draconian way", said Dr Monica Horten, policy manager for freedom of expression at Open Rights Group. She said there needed to be more consideration of the risks that come with forcing websites to verify the age of their users.
The bill will give the communications regulator Ofcom powers to fine tech companies, block access to sites and also see the introduction of criminal liabilities for executives of companies who fail to co-operate. New measures will also seek to hold top executives personally responsible for keeping children safe on their platforms, the government said, after agreeing to toughen the bill in January with the prospect of jail time for tech bosses.
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
NHS digital health check-ups launched 'to ease pressure on GPs'The government aims to deliver more than one million of the online assessments in the first four years of the scheme, which it hopes will help prevent hundreds of strokes and heart attacks.
Read more »
UK's plans for fusion power by 2040s will need GPUsBoffins plan 'digital twin' to help hit deadline, recruit heavy-hitting partners
Read more »
Millions of people over 40 to be sent health test to carry out at homeDigital NHS health checks will be made available for people aged between 40 and 74
Read more »
The best pre-Prime Day Cricut dealsGet set for the sales with the lates pre-Prime Day Cricut deals. preprimeday cricut
Read more »
Fujitsu admits it fluffed the fix for Japan’s flaky ID cardFujitsu Japan is in the spotlight again for all the wrong reasons, after fumbling its attempt to fix the nation's troubled ID card scheme...
Read more »
Boost for UK tech as Salesforce pledges £3.2bn investmentThe company says rapid growth in digital transformation, particularly in AI, has driven its decision to back the UK economy.
Read more »