Pressure is building on Keir Starmer after more than 60 Members of Parliament from the Labour Party publicly called for a ban on social media use for children under the age of 16. The MPs argue that existing voluntary measures by platforms are insufficient to protect young people online and that firmer regulation is now required.
At its 15 January 2026 meeting, the GNSO Council adopted a new Policy Development Process on DNS abuse mitigation, clarified dispute rules for intergovernmental organisations, and discussed reforms to ICANN’s policy and review processes. The session highlighted both substantive policy progress and ongoing debates about governance and accountability.
The Open Rights Group has issued a statement in response to a UK government consultation on restricting social media access for under-16s, raising concerns about the practical consequences of age-based bans and their implications for privacy, data protection, and young people’s ability to participate online.
A new analysis by noyb examines selected elements of the European Commission’s proposed Digital Omnibus package, focusing on how planned amendments could affect the interpretation and enforcement of EU data protection law.
The European Commission is planning a revision of the EU Cybersecurity Act to extend certification beyond technical products and services. The reform would place greater emphasis on organisational risk management, supply chains, and governance, while strengthening the role of the EU cybersecurity agency.
The GNSO Secretariat has invited ICANN community groups to nominate representatives for a newly launched Policy Development Process on DNS abuse mitigation, following the formal adoption of the PDP charter in mid-January.
At a technology policy gathering in Paris, UNESCO reiterated the need for stronger international coordination to address the environmental impacts of artificial intelligence. Discussions focused on how AI’s expanding energy, water, and computing requirements intersect with global climate objectives.
New research indicates that online abuse targeting women and girls is increasing across Europe. Cyberstalking, surveillance, threats and image-based abuse, including deepfake pornography, are emerging as the most widespread forms of digital violence, raising concerns about enforcement gaps and the role of automated technologies.
Brazilian public authorities have issued a joint recommendation to X Brasil Internet Ltda. concerning the operation of the Grok artificial intelligence system, following reports that the tool enables the creation of non-consensual sexualised synthetic content involving identifiable individuals, including children and adolescents.
Burundi’s parliament has unanimously approved a new legal framework governing the collection and use of personal data, as public authorities accelerate the digitisation of administrative systems. The legislation establishes an independent oversight body and introduces penalties for misuse, marking a significant development in the country’s digital governance landscape.
Civil Society Alliances for Digital Empowerment (CADE) is a project co-funded by the European Union.
