UK police chiefs have called for children under 16 to be blocked from accessing social media, AI, and gaming applications that fail to disable "high-risk" features. This joint recommendation, made by the National Crime Agency (NCA) and the National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC), specifically targets platforms that do not prevent minors from being contacted by strangers, recommend harmful content, or permit the sharing of nude images, according to BBC News. The police bosses' statement comes in response to a government consultation regarding a potential ban on social media for under-16s. They argue that platforms must implement safeguards to protect young users from online dangers. In response to these concerns, the government has stated that technology companies bear the responsibility to ensure children's online safety. The government also affirmed its support for the regulator Ofcom to take action against firms that do not comply with these protective measures. What's next: The government's consultation on banning social media for under-16s is ongoing, with Ofcom expected to act against non-compliant tech firms.
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