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| Under-18s face 'like' and 'streaks' bans on social media | Under-18s face 'like' and 'streaks' bans on social media |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Facebook and Instagram face a ban on letting under-18s "like" posts on their platforms while Snapchat could be prevented from allowing the age group to build up "streaks", under new rules proposed by the UK's data watchdog. | Facebook and Instagram face a ban on letting under-18s "like" posts on their platforms while Snapchat could be prevented from allowing the age group to build up "streaks", under new rules proposed by the UK's data watchdog. |
| It believes the tools encourage users to share more personal data and spend more time on apps than desired. | It believes the tools encourage users to share more personal data and spend more time on apps than desired. |
| Likes help build up profiles of users' interests while streaks encourage them to send photos and videos daily. | Likes help build up profiles of users' interests while streaks encourage them to send photos and videos daily. |
| The proposal is part of a 16-rule code. | The proposal is part of a 16-rule code. |
| To ensure its success, the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) says that online services must also adopt "robust" age-verification systems. | To ensure its success, the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) says that online services must also adopt "robust" age-verification systems. |
| Location tracking | Location tracking |
| In addition to calling for an end to children being exposed to so-called "nudge techniques", the ICO advocates internet firms make the following changes among others for their younger members: | In addition to calling for an end to children being exposed to so-called "nudge techniques", the ICO advocates internet firms make the following changes among others for their younger members: |
| The ICO suggests that firms that do not comply with the code could face fines of up to 20 million euros (£17.2m) or 4% of their worldwide turnover under the General Data Protection Regulation. | The ICO suggests that firms that do not comply with the code could face fines of up to 20 million euros (£17.2m) or 4% of their worldwide turnover under the General Data Protection Regulation. |
| "The internet and all its wonders are hardwired into their everyday lives," commented Information Commissioner Elizabeth Denham. | "The internet and all its wonders are hardwired into their everyday lives," commented Information Commissioner Elizabeth Denham. |
| "We shouldn't have to prevent our children from being able to use it, but we must demand that they are protected when they do. This code does that." | "We shouldn't have to prevent our children from being able to use it, but we must demand that they are protected when they do. This code does that." |
| Her office is now seeking feedback as part of a consultation that will run until 31 May. It is envisaged that the rules would come into effect next year. | Her office is now seeking feedback as part of a consultation that will run until 31 May. It is envisaged that the rules would come into effect next year. |
| The Internet Association UK - which represents Facebook, Snap and other tech firms - has already raised concerns. | |
| "Any new guidelines must be technically possible to implement in practice, and not stifle innovation and opportunities for smaller platforms," said its executive director Daniel Dyball. | |
| "We must be careful when designing regulation to ensure any technical challenges, particularly around age verification, are understood and taken into consideration." | |
| Bad nudges | Bad nudges |
| Restrictions on Facebook's like button - which registers a user's interest in another user or advertiser's post - and Snapchat streaks - which count the number of consecutive days two members have messaged each other - are not the only nudge behaviours being targeted. | Restrictions on Facebook's like button - which registers a user's interest in another user or advertiser's post - and Snapchat streaks - which count the number of consecutive days two members have messaged each other - are not the only nudge behaviours being targeted. |
| The ICO also says that apps should not: | The ICO also says that apps should not: |
| These, it said, exploit "human susceptibility to reward-seeking behaviours in order to keep users online". | These, it said, exploit "human susceptibility to reward-seeking behaviours in order to keep users online". |
| However, the regulator said it was appropriate in some cases to use nudges that encourage children to opt for privacy-enhancing settings, or to take a break after using an online service for some time. | However, the regulator said it was appropriate in some cases to use nudges that encourage children to opt for privacy-enhancing settings, or to take a break after using an online service for some time. |
| The ICO's rules follow a proposal from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) for the creation of an independent tech watchdog that would write its own "code of practice" for online companies. | The ICO's rules follow a proposal from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) for the creation of an independent tech watchdog that would write its own "code of practice" for online companies. |
| The suggestions have already been welcomed by the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC). | The suggestions have already been welcomed by the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC). |
| "Social networks have continually failed to prioritise child safety in their design, which has resulted in tragic consequences," commented the charity's Andy Burrows. | "Social networks have continually failed to prioritise child safety in their design, which has resulted in tragic consequences," commented the charity's Andy Burrows. |
| "This design code from the ICO is a really significant package of measures, but it must go hand in hand with the government following through on its commitment to enshrine in law a new duty of care on social networks and an independent regulator with powers to investigate and fine." | "This design code from the ICO is a really significant package of measures, but it must go hand in hand with the government following through on its commitment to enshrine in law a new duty of care on social networks and an independent regulator with powers to investigate and fine." |
| But the code has drawn criticism from the Adam Smith Institute think tank. | But the code has drawn criticism from the Adam Smith Institute think tank. |
| "The ICO is an unelected quango introducing draconian limitations on the internet with the threat of massive fines," said its head of research Matthew Lesh. | "The ICO is an unelected quango introducing draconian limitations on the internet with the threat of massive fines," said its head of research Matthew Lesh. |
| "It is ridiculous to infantilise people and treat everyone as children." | "It is ridiculous to infantilise people and treat everyone as children." |