iWorld
UK races towards under-16 social-media ban and tighter leash on AI chatbots
Ministers eye Australian-style curbs within months, vowing to close loopholes that expose children to risky AI and online harms
UK: Britain is sprinting towards a social-media ban for under-16s and a clampdown on AI chatbots, as ministers scramble to get ahead of fast-moving digital risks to children.
An Australian-style prohibition on under-16s using social platforms could arrive as early as this year. At the same time, the government wants to shut a loophole that leaves some AI chatbots outside existing safety rules.
Keir Starmer’s government launched a consultation last month on banning social media for under-16s and is now working on legislative changes that could land within months of the consultation closing.
The push comes amid a broader international shift. Spain, Greece and Slovenia are exploring similar bans after Australia became the first country to block social-media access for under-16s. Scrutiny of AI has intensified since Elon Musk’s flagship chatbot, Grok, was found to be generating non-consensual sexualised images.
Britain’s 2023 Online Safety Act is among the world’s toughest regimes, yet it does not cover one-to-one interactions with AI chatbots unless content is shared with other users. That gap, Liz Kendall said, will be closed.
“I am concerned about these AI chatbots… as is the prime minister, about the impact that’s having on children and young people,” Kendall told Times Radio. Some children, she said, were forming one-to-one relationships with AI systems “that were not designed with child safety in mind.”
Proposals will be set out before June. Tech firms, Kendall said, would be responsible for ensuring their systems comply with British law.
Ministers are also consulting on automatic data-preservation orders when a child dies, allowing investigators to secure vital online evidence — a measure long sought by bereaved families. Other ideas include curbs on “stranger pairing” on gaming consoles and blocks on sending or receiving nude images. The changes would come as amendments to crime and child-protection laws now before parliament.
The child-safety drive is not without friction. Such rules can have knock-on effects for adults’ privacy and access to services, and have already stirred tensions with the United States over free speech and regulatory overreach.
Some large pornography sites have chosen to block British users rather than conduct age checks. Those blocks are easily sidestepped with virtual private networks, which the government is considering restricting for minors.
Many parents and safety advocates favour a ban. Yet some child-protection groups fear it could push harmful behaviour into darker, less regulated corners of the internet or create a sharp cliff edge at 16. Ministers still need to define, in law, what counts as social media before any ban bites.
The direction of travel, though, is clear: faster rules, fewer loopholes, and a shrinking tolerance for digital wild west. For tech firms and teenagers alike, Britain’s online free ride looks set to end at speed.
iWorld
Prime Video and Hrithik Roshan reunite for quirky heist comedy Mess
HRX Films expands pact with quirky heist comedy set for production
MUMBAI: Prime Video is doubling down on its partnership with Hrithik Roshan, announcing a new comedy film Mess that promises chaos, chuckles and a clever twist on the classic heist.
Produced by Hrithik Roshan and Eshaan Roshan under HRX Films, a division of FilmKraft Productions, the film is being made in association with Soda Films Lab. Directed by Rajesh A Krishnan, Mess marks the second collaboration between the streaming platform and HRX Films after the upcoming thriller Storm.
At the heart of Mess lies an unusual premise. A group of robbers break into the home of a man with OCD, only to find themselves outmatched in a night-long standoff that flips the script on who is really in control. It is a set-up that blends tension with humour, turning a break-in into a breakdown of expectations.
Prime Video India director and head of originals Nikhil Madhok said, “A good story should surprise and entertain, and Mess does both with ease. It brings together a unique premise, memorable characters and a tone that keeps you laughing throughout.”
He added that the collaboration with HRX Films continues to grow stronger, with the new film reflecting a shared appetite for bold and original storytelling.
Hrithik Roshan said, “After Storm, Mess feels like a natural next step in our journey with Prime Video. The film captures the kind of unconventional storytelling we want to champion, with Rajesh bringing a distinctive voice to the narrative.”
Director Rajesh A Krishnan said, “The world of Mess is a mix of comedy and chaos, unusual enough to keep audiences on edge while still delivering humour. It has been a deeply collaborative and creatively fulfilling experience.”
The original screenplay comes from Paul Soter, with adaptation and dialogues by Kapil Sawant, adding another layer of craft to the film’s offbeat narrative.
As production gears up, Mess looks ready to live up to its name, serving up a delightful tangle of mayhem, mischief and movie magic for audiences in India and beyond.
