Tech firms must keep children's data if they die, under new plans
Why it matters: This initiative could significantly reshape how tech companies handle children's data and AI interactions, potentially setting a precedent for stricter regulations and faster legislative responses to emerging technologies.
- Sir Keir Starmer pledges to close loopholes in online safety laws and crack down on addictive elements of social media, aiming to make Britain a leader in online safety.
- The government plans to launch a public consultation on children's social media use and create new legal powers to take 'immediate action' on findings, potentially restricting access to AI chatbots and limiting 'doomscrolling'.
- Technology Secretary Liz Kendall emphasizes the need for a faster legislative process, suggesting a model similar to the annual Finance Bill to address the rapid pace of technological change, acknowledging the Online Safety Act was written before the rise of AI chatbots.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is pushing for swift action to update online safety laws to protect children, including requiring tech companies to preserve deceased children's data for potential coronial investigations. The government aims to close loopholes in the Online Safety Act, particularly concerning AI chatbots, and speed up the legislative process to keep pace with rapidly evolving technology.
