Online Safety stories - Page 3

cside launches browser-based AI Agent Detection toolkit, helping businesses spot agentic traffic and tailor site experiences in real time.

New research finds most people doubt under-16 social media bans will curb online harm, expecting teens to bypass rules and limits.

Avast rolls out Deepfake Guard for Windows and takes Scam Guardian global on mobile in a push to combat rising video-led fraud.

TUANZ has teamed with Recycle A Device to supply refurbished laptops to students, targeting New Zealand’s growing digital divide in 2026.

Hackers are hijacking ageing home routers worldwide, covertly rewiring DNS to quietly cash in on everyday web browsing traffic.

BSI unveils the first global standard for online age checks, aiming to harmonise safety rules as countries consider tougher social media curbs.

AI voice cloning scams have already cost Australians AUD $25.8m in 2025, as experts warn lifelike fake calls are outpacing public awareness.

Meta promotes parental controls over teen social media bans at NZ Instagram safety camp as debate grows on under-16s’ online access.

Swiss startup Umanitek has unveiled Guardian Agent, a subscription tool to spot deepfakes, fake profiles and AI-driven impersonation online.

Google has begun using AI-powered age checks in Singapore, tightening default safety settings for under-18s on Search, Play, Maps and YouTube.

OpenAI deploys behavioural age prediction for ChatGPT as it prepares a 2026 adult mode, raising fresh privacy and child-safety concerns.

Snap locks 415,000 suspected under-16 Snapchat accounts in Australia and renews calls for stricter app store-level age checks.

Lonely UK daters increasingly turn to AI companions even as romance scams surge, with rising losses and growing trust in chatbots over humans.

Sumsub launches AI Agent Verification to link automated activity to verified humans, tackling rising AI-driven fraud without blocking bots.

Cybercriminals abused Hugging Face to host rapidly mutating TrustBastion Android malware stealing credentials across Asia-Pacific.

EE has opened a new Lakeside Experience store, piloting ‘Stay Safe with AI’ sessions amid a GBP £3 million UK retail investment plan.

Incode has joined the OpenAge Initiative, bolstering a push for interoperable, privacy-preserving age checks across online services.

McAfee boosts its Scam Detector with instant QR checks and smarter message scanning to counter a surge in personal, AI-powered frauds.

WhatsApp launches Strict Account Settings, a lockdown mode offering tighter privacy and security for journalists and other high‑risk users.

Snapchat adds detailed screen-time and friend context tools to Family Centre, giving parents new teen safety insights without reading chats.