Australia’s eSafety Commissioner has directed major platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat, to enforce a minimum user age of 16 from 10 December. Services that fail to take 'reasonable steps' to block underage accounts could face penalties of up to 49.5 million AUD as part of strengthened child-protection measures.
The code will be developed over seven months by independent experts appointed by the European AI Office. The process began with a kick-off plenary meeting and will involve public input and contributions from stakeholders selected through an open call.
ICANN’s annual report to UNCTAD highlights advances in multilingual internet access, preparations for the next round of new domain names, and continued support for global internet governance processes, while noting persistent risks such as fragmentation and growing pressure on multistakeholder cooperation.
With more specifications and support material expected as Phase 4 progresses, ETSI positions the work as part of a broader effort to standardise edge computing while ensuring compatibility with software-driven development ecosystems.
A new analysis by digital-rights group Paradigm Initiative estimates that Tanzania’s five-day election-period internet blackout and the ongoing suspension of X have cost the country more than US $238 million in lost productivity, trade, and digital services. The organisation says the restrictions have also undermined access to information and free expression, and urges authorities to fully restore services and avoid future disruptions, particularly during democratic processes.
Digital-rights organisations warn that prolonged outages can hinder emergency communication, disrupt businesses, and isolate communities. They argue that internet access now underpins key services, creating social and economic risks when networks are switched off for extended periods.
Ghana’s proposed Cybersecurity (Amendment) Bill has prompted warnings from the Ghana Journalists Association, which fears the reforms could unintentionally restrict press freedom if adopted without consultation. Speaking at a press briefing in Accra, GJA President Albert Kwabena Dwumfuor backed stronger cybersecurity laws but urged Parliament to engage media, civil-society groups, and digital-rights experts before passing the bill.
In the document, readers will find a strong focus on DNS abuse mitigation, mandatory access mechanisms for domain registration data, and equitable participation in the upcoming round of new top-level domains. The GAC raises concerns about low uptake in the Applicant Support Program, calls for stricter timelines for urgent data-access requests, and urges improvements in transparency and enforcement as the domain space expands.
A new joint study by the ICRC and the Geneva Academy warns that rising civilian involvement in cyber operations is challenging long-standing protections in armed conflict. The report examines how international humanitarian law applies when civilians engage in hacking or other digital activities, outlines risks to civilian infrastructure, and calls on governments and technology companies to clarify responsibilities and minimise harm as cyber operations become increasingly intertwined with modern warfare.
The Applicant Guidebook sets the rules and requirements for organisations seeking to operate new domain extensions. It explains eligibility, application procedures, fees, evaluation steps, and dispute processes.
Civil Society Alliances for Digital Empowerment (CADE) is a project co-funded by the European Union.
