Intellectual Property Partner Terry Green, London Deputy Managing Partner, was quoted by BBN Times and multiple TechDay outlets about enhanced parental controls rolled out by Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, which will enhance safety and privacy features for teen users. The update expands upon existing protections introduced in September 2024, requiring parental permission for users under 16 to access Instagram’s live streaming feature, and "comes as part of a broader effort to enhance child safety online" in alignment with "growing regulatory pressures," including the United Kingdom’s Online Safety Act and enforcement initiatives by the Office of Communications (Ofcom), as reported by BBN Times.
"Meta's updates to parental controls are a welcome step toward protecting children and demonstrate that the Online Safety Act, alongside Ofcom's enforcement efforts, is resonating with major tech companies," Terry commented. "This move by one of the online world's giants marks the next chapter in the Act's rollout." He added that platforms faced a deadline in March to complete their illegal harms risk assessments, and that "by next week, they must also finalize a children's access risk assessment — mandatory for all platforms, regardless of existing age verification measures."
Terry went on to highlight the timing of Meta's decision and noted that "the much-anticipated" Protection of Children Code, along with accompanying guidance, is expected to be released later in April. "Platform providers are wise to act proactively by introducing safeguards for children," he added. "Ofcom's website provides extensive resources, though navigating the guidance and legislation requires careful consideration and expertise." Terry emphasized that Ofcom "has made it clear that it takes enforcement seriously" and that its "expectations for compliance are high."
"Meta's New Parental Controls Signal a Shift in Online Safety Compliance," BBN Times, April 8, 2025
Also see:
"Meta enhances safety with new features for teen accounts," TechDay: ChannelLife Australia, ChannelLife Canada, ChannelLife India, ChannelLife US, ChannelLife UK, ChannelLife NewZealand, CMOTech Asia, CMOTech Canada, CMOTech India, CMOTech US, CMOTech UK, eCommerceNews Asia, eCommerceNews Australia, eCommerceNews Canada, eCommerceNews India, eCommerceNews New Zealand, eCommerceNews US, eCommerceNews UK, FutureFive Australia, FutureFive New Zealand, SecurityBrief Asia, SecurityBrief Australia, SecurityBrief Canada, SecurityBrief India, SecurityBrief US, SecurityBrief UK, SecurityBrief New Zealand, April 8, 2025
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