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An overwhelming majority of UK adults want tech giants to employ senior managers who are held legally responsible for children harmed by social media, according to new polling.

Four in five surveyed by YouGov would back the requirement being added to the government’s Online Safety Bill, which aims to regulate internet content to help keep users safe.

It comes as a cross-party group of MPs backs an amendment to the legislation that would see tech bosses held to account should their platforms have contributed to the serious harm, abuse, or death of a child.

Last year, a coroner ruled that schoolgirl Molly Russell had died from “an act of self-harm while suffering from depression and the negative effects of online content”.

The MPs, including the Labour shadow cabinet and Conservatives Bill Cash and Miriam Cates, want social media companies to be made liable for such incidents, and are calling on the government to amend the Online Safety Bill.

In its current form, the bill would only hold managers responsible for failing to give information to regulator Ofcom, rather than for corporate decisions that result in preventable harm or sexual abuse.

The chief executive of the NSPCC, which commissioned the YouGov research, said the legislation should provide “bold, world-leading regulation that ensures the buck stops with senior management”.

Read more:
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Online Safety Bill might not be too little, but it’s certainly too late

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Ian Russell ‘worried’ about revised Online Safety Bill

Culture Secretary Michelle Donelan wrote an open letter to parents before Christmas, promising that social media companies would be held responsible not just for illegal content on their platforms, but any material which can “cause serious trauma” to children.

The letter outlined six measures the bill will take to crack down on social media platforms:

• Removing illegal content, including child sexual abuse and terrorist content

• Protecting children from harmful and inappropriate content, such as cyberbullying or promoting eating disorders

• Putting legal duties on companies to enforce their own age limits, which for most are 13

• Make companies use age-checking measures to protect children from inappropriate content, similarly to a recent crackdown on porn sites in Louisiana

• Posts encouraging self-harm will be made illegal

• Companies will be made to publish risk assessments on potential dangers posed to children on their sites

If companies are found to be falling short, Ms Donelan said they face fines of up to £1bn and may see their sites blocked in the UK.

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What is in the online safety bill?

Her letter came after the legislation returned to parliament following multiple delays, having found itself in the crosshairs of free speech campaigners concerned that far-reaching regulation could amount to censorship.

The bill is scheduled to return to parliament on 16 January.

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British journalist Charlotte Peet missing in Brazil

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Father 'very concerned' as British journalist Charlotte Peet missing in Brazil

A British journalist has gone missing in Brazil, according to an association of foreign correspondents in the country, which is calling for authorities to step up the search.

Charlotte Alice Peet, 32, told a friend she was in Sao Paulo on 8 February but was planning to go to Rio de Janeiro before she disappeared.

Days later her family contacted the friend saying they had lost contact with the journalist.

She has worked as a foreign correspondent in Brazil, for organisations including broadcaster Al Jazeera and The Times newspaper, according to her LinkedIn profile.

Charlotte Peet works as a freelance correspondent.
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Charlotte Peet works as a freelance correspondent

The ACIE, the association of foreign press correspondents in Brazil, has issued a statement expressing concern about her disappearance, and to express sympathy for her family and friends.

It said the case was initially registered with police in Rio on Monday but referred to Sao Paulo, the last place she was known to have been before disappearing.

The Sao Paulo Public Security Secretariat said that the state department of homicide and protection of the person would assist in the case, according to the statement.

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Charlotte worked in Rio more than two years ago as a freelance correspondent, then went back to London before returning to Brazil in November last year.

She is said to have contacted a friend in Rio on WhatsApp saying she needed a place to stay but was told the friend could not host her.

Ms Peet’s family have provided information about her flight to Brazil and a photo of her passport to help with the search.

“The ACIE and its board of directors call on the competent authorities to intensify the search in order to find the British journalist as soon as possible,” a statement on behalf of its president Edmar Figueiredo and its board of directors said.

A Foreign Office spokesperson said: “We are supporting the family of a British woman who has been reported as missing in Brazil and are in contact with the local authorities.”

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Driver killed ‘showboating’ e-bike rider to ‘teach him a lesson’

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Driver killed 'showboating' e-bike rider to 'teach him a lesson'

A driver who tailed and deliberately rammed his car into an e-bike rider to “teach him a lesson” for pulling a “wheelie” in front of his car has been convicted of murder.

Liam Jones, 22, suffered serious chest and abdominal injuries and died at the scene after Abdirahman Ibrahim drove into the back of his electric bike twice in Sheldon, Birmingham.

West Midlands Police said Ibrahim, 21, initially struck Mr Jones and then sped up to hit him again, causing the cyclist to come off his bike and collide with a concrete bollard.

Ibrahim was convicted of murder on Monday following a trial at Birmingham Crown Court.

His brother, Abdullahi Ibrahim, 21, was a passenger in the Seat Leon and previously pleaded guilty to assisting an offender.

The siblings will be sentenced on 26 March.

Abdullahi Ibrahim. Pic: West Midlands Police
Image:
Abdullahi Ibrahim. Pic: West Midlands Police

The court heard how they first came across Mr Jones and a friend when they were riding their bikes shortly before midnight on Coventry Road on 1 August 2023.

Ibrahim was initially travelling in the opposite direction, but then turned at a roundabout and started to follow the bike riders.

CCTV footage showed the car close to Mr Jones, who performed a “stand-up wheelie” in front of the vehicle.

A pursuit then began, which ended with Ibrahim mowing Mr Jones down in Moat Lane.

Liam Jones. Pic: West Midlands Police
Image:
Liam Jones. Pic: West Midlands Police

Ibrahim then fled the scene and parked his car in Golden Hillock Road, Sparkbrook, while his brother called for a taxi to take them home.

West Midlands Police said during their journey the pair “casually stopped off at a shop in Coventry Road”.

The force said the brothers then split up, with Abdullahi Ibrahim returning to the car, which was later found parked in Hingeston Street, near the Jewellery Quarter.

He returned home in a taxi at just before 3am.

By this point, West Midlands Police said officers had already identified the vehicle involved and went to the brothers’ then home address in Yardley.

When officers arrived, Abdirahman Ibrahim was said to have told a number of lies about where his car was.

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Detective Inspector Nick Barnes said: “Abdirahman Ibrahim was intent on causing harm to Liam. He could have turned off at any point, but he followed the riders and wanted to be in control.

“This was not a case of racing gone wrong as had been claimed by Ibrahim, but of him menacingly pursuing Liam and his friend.

“We believe he was angered by Liam’s showboating and wanted to teach him a lesson. He knew what he had done and did nothing to help, instead driving off.

“Tragically, Liam lost his life and Ibrahim will now spend many years of his own young life in prison.

“Ibrahim’s brother may have felt a sense of loyalty, but by trying to help his sibling he is now also a convicted criminal.

“We know Liam’s death caused a lot of concern within the community and our detectives have worked tirelessly – reviewing hours upon hours of CCTV footage and phone records – to ensure we achieved these convictions.

“While nothing will ever bring Liam back, we hope knowing those involved have been caught and are being punished will provide some solace to his family and friends.”

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Emma Raducanu visibly distressed after being approached by man displaying ‘fixated behaviour’ at Dubai Tennis Championships

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Emma Raducanu posts update after becoming visibly upset during tennis match

Emma Raducanu was visibly upset during a match at the Dubai Tennis Championships – after being approached by a man displaying “fixated behaviour”.

The 22-year-old was in tears as she went to the umpire’s chair after the second game of her rain-delayed second-round match on Tuesday and went on to lose 7-6 (8-6) 6-4 to 14th seed Karolina Muchova.

The man was subsequently removed from the tennis court by security.

Concerning the incident, the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) statement said: “On Monday, February 17, Emma Raducanu was approached in a public area by a man who exhibited fixated behaviour.

“This same individual was identified in the first few rows during Emma’s match on Tuesday at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships and subsequently ejected.

“He will be banned from all WTA events pending a threat assessment.

“Player safety is our top priority, and tournaments are advised on security best practices for international sporting events.

Emma Raduanu previously had a stalker and was 'constantly looking over her shoulder'.  Pic: AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake
Image:
Emma Raduanu previously had a stalker and was ‘constantly looking over her shoulder’. Pic: AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake

The WTA added it was “actively working” with Raducanu to ensure her well-being and will provide any “necessary support”.

In 2022, a 35-year-old man was handed a five-year restraining order – after a court heard Raducanu was “constantly looking over her shoulder” and no longer felt “safe in her own home”.

Amrit Magar had walked 23 miles to Emma’s home and had stolen her father’s shoe as a souvenir.

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Bromley Magistrates’ Court heard how Magar went to Raducanu’s home on three separate occasions, loitered outside, left unwanted gifts and cards, and stole property from their porch.

The court also heard from Raducanu through a victim impact statement read by prosecutors – which said that her parents were “reluctant” to let her go out on her own.

The restraining order, handed to Magar by District Judge Sushil Kumar, bans him from contacting Raducanu and her parents.

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