BRUSSELS: The EU Friday demanded digital giants including Snapchat and YouTube explain how they are protecting children from online harm, as member states explore restricting minors&#39; access to social media at a European level. The European Union has stringent rules regulating the digital space, including what children should be able to see, but there is increasing concern that more needs doing to tackle the issue. Inspired by Australia&#39;s social media ban for under-16s, Brussels is analyzing whether such a measure could work in the 27-country bloc after several states, including France and Spain, pushed for limits on minors&#39; access to platforms. Digital Services Act&nbsp;Europe&#39;s biggest weapon for ensuring platforms tackle illegal content and keep children safe online is the Digital Services Act, which has sparked censorship claims from the US tech sector and retaliation threats from President Donald Trump. Now, as part of &quot;investigative actions&quot; under the DSA, the European Commission has sent a request for information to Snapchat about what steps it is taking to prevent access for children under 13. The commission has also asked Apple&#39;s App Store and the Google Play marketplace to provide details on measures taken to prevent children downloading illegal or harmful apps -- for example, those with gambling services or sexual content. The EU wants to know in particular how Apple and Google stop children downloading tools to create non-consensual sexualized content as well as how they apply apps&#39; age ratings. &quot;Privacy, security and safety have to be ensured, and this is not always the case, and that&#39;s why the commission is tightening the enforcement of our rules,&quot; tech chief Henna Virkkunen said before EU ministers met in Denmark. A request for information can lead to probes and even fines, but does not in itself suggest the law has been broken, nor is it a move towards punishment. Winds of change&nbsp;Regarding Snapchat, Brussels wants to know how the messaging app stops users from buying drugs and vapes, a claim echoed by Danish Digital Minister Caroline Stage Olsen on Friday. It also wants YouTube to provide details on its recommender system, &quot;following reporting of harmful content being disseminated to minors&quot;, the commission said.The demands are not the first under the DSA. The EU is also probing Meta&#39;s Facebook and Instagram, as well as TikTok, over fears they are not doing enough to combat the addictive nature of their platforms for children. In a parallel push on child protection, EU telecoms ministers will Friday discuss age verification on social media and what steps they can take to make the world online safer for minors. They are expected to agree on a joint statement backing EU chief Ursula von der Leyen&#39;s plans to study a potential bloc-wide digital majority age, according to a draft document seen by AFP. Ban on social media&nbsp;Von der Leyen has voiced personal support for such a move, and said last month she would establish an experts&#39; panel &quot;to assess what steps make sense&quot; at the EU level. Denmark, in charge of the rotating six-month EU presidency, has been pushing the bloc to take more collective action through new rules. Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said Tuesday Denmark planned to introduce a ban on social media for children under the age of 15. France already has a law requiring parental consent for social media users under the age of 15.

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The EU is pressuring tech giants such as Apple, Snapchat, and YouTube to explain how they protect children online, amid rising concerns and proposals for age restrictions and stricter enforcement under the Digital Services Act.

EU grills Apple, Snapchat, YouTube over risks to children

<p style='box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; font-size: 16px; line-height: calc(-6px + 1.75rem); padding: 0.2rem 0px 0.8rem; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); font-family: "AP Font", "AP Font Local", Verdana, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;' id="isPasted">Apple has taken down an app that uses crowdsourcing to flag sightings of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/portland-chicago-memphis-federal-crackdowns-trump-7a45dcf0e7e2bd7debb38603e5b4f660" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(0, 84, 189); text-decoration: none; cursor: pointer; font-size: inherit; outline: none;">U.S. immigration agents</a> after coming under pressure from the Trump administration.<p style='box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; font-size: 16px; line-height: calc(-6px + 1.75rem); padding: 0.2rem 0px 0.8rem; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); font-family: "AP Font", "AP Font Local", Verdana, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;'>ICEBlock, a free iPhone-only app that lets users anonymously report and monitor activity by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers, was no longer available on Apple&#39;s App Store as of Friday. The developer had confirmed its removal on Thursday evening.<p style='box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; font-size: 16px; line-height: calc(-6px + 1.75rem); padding: 0.2rem 0px 0.8rem; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); font-family: "AP Font", "AP Font Local", Verdana, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;'>&ldquo;We just received a message from Apple&rsquo;s App Review that&nbsp;<a href="https://bsky.app/hashtag/ICEBlock" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(0, 84, 189); text-decoration: none; cursor: pointer; font-size: inherit; outline: none;">#ICEBlock</a> has been removed from the App Store due to &ldquo;objectionable content&#39;,&rdquo; ICEBlock said in a social media post. &ldquo;The only thing we can imagine is this is due to pressure from the Trump Admin. We have responded and we&rsquo;ll fight this!&quot;<p style='box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; font-size: 16px; line-height: calc(-6px + 1.75rem); padding: 0.2rem 0px 0.8rem; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); font-family: "AP Font", "AP Font Local", Verdana, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;'>The developer said last month that it had more than 1 million users. Even though it has been removed from the app marketplace, those who have already downloaded the app should still be able to use it.<p style='box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; font-size: 16px; line-height: calc(-6px + 1.75rem); padding: 0.2rem 0px 0.8rem; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); font-family: "AP Font", "AP Font Local", Verdana, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;'>The Associated Press reached out to ICEBlock for further comments on Friday.<p style='box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; font-size: 16px; line-height: calc(-6px + 1.75rem); padding: 0.2rem 0px 0.8rem; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); font-family: "AP Font", "AP Font Local", Verdana, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;'>Apple said it removed apps like ICEBlock due to the potential for risks that were raised by law enforcement.<p style='box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; font-size: 16px; line-height: calc(-6px + 1.75rem); padding: 0.2rem 0px 0.8rem; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); font-family: "AP Font", "AP Font Local", Verdana, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;'>&ldquo;We created the App Store to be a safe and trusted place to discover apps,&quot; the company said in a statement. &ldquo;Based on information we&rsquo;ve received from law enforcement about the safety risks associated with ICEBlock, we have removed it and similar apps from the App Store.&rdquo;<p style='box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; font-size: 16px; line-height: calc(-6px + 1.75rem); padding: 0.2rem 0px 0.8rem; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); font-family: "AP Font", "AP Font Local", Verdana, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;'>U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi confirmed that her office had reached out to Apple on Thursday &ldquo;demanding that they remove ICEBlock from their App Store.&quot; In a statement sent to The Associated Press, she claimed that ICEBlock was &ldquo;designed to put ICE agents at risk just for doing their jobs.&rdquo;<p style='box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; font-size: 16px; line-height: calc(-6px + 1.75rem); padding: 0.2rem 0px 0.8rem; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); font-family: "AP Font", "AP Font Local", Verdana, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;'>Officials said last month that a gunman who opened fire on an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/dallas-ice-shooting-update-immigration-0631d82e4fd0b1f6e3309e6e8aa83d1e" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(0, 84, 189); text-decoration: none; cursor: pointer; font-size: inherit; outline: none;">ICE facility</a> in Dallas had searched for apps that tracked the presence of ICE agents.<p style='box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; font-size: 16px; line-height: calc(-6px + 1.75rem); padding: 0.2rem 0px 0.8rem; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); font-family: "AP Font", "AP Font Local", Verdana, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;'>Bondi has previously said that crowdsourced apps that allow people to communicate about the location of law enforcement officers is not allowed &mdash; specifically referring to ICEBlock developer Joshua Aaron in a July interview on Fox News.<p style='box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; font-size: 16px; line-height: calc(-6px + 1.75rem); padding: 0.2rem 0px 0.8rem; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); font-family: "AP Font", "AP Font Local", Verdana, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;'>&ldquo;We are looking at him and he better watch out because that&rsquo;s not a protected speech,&rdquo; Bondi said at the time.<p style='box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; font-size: 16px; line-height: calc(-6px + 1.75rem); padding: 0.2rem 0px 0.8rem; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); font-family: "AP Font", "AP Font Local", Verdana, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;'>But advocates say that tracking ICE activity is a form of free speech protected by the First amendment. They maintain that such platforms are primarily used among individuals looking to protect themselves from surprise raids or potential harassment from immigration officials.<p style='box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; font-size: 16px; line-height: calc(-6px + 1.75rem); padding: 0.2rem 0px 0.8rem; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); font-family: "AP Font", "AP Font Local", Verdana, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;'>Downloads of apps like ICEblock have surged as the Trump administration steps up immigration enforcement.<p style='box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; font-size: 16px; line-height: calc(-6px + 1.75rem); padding: 0.2rem 0px 0.8rem; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); font-family: "AP Font", "AP Font Local", Verdana, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;'>ICEBlock and other crowdsourcing apps like it are being targeted, but crowdsourced technology has become common in the app store, and is still available through other apps.<p style='box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; font-size: 16px; line-height: calc(-6px + 1.75rem); padding: 0.2rem 0px 0.8rem; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); font-family: "AP Font", "AP Font Local", Verdana, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;'>Navigation apps like Waze or Google Maps for Android phones have been in use for years. Part of their draw is that users are alerted to police speed traps by other drivers. Users of those apps have suggested they can be used to post updates about &ldquo;icy conditions.&rdquo;

Gadgets

Artificial Intelligence

Apple has taken down an app that uses crowdsourcing to flag sightings of U.S. immigration agents after coming under pressure from the Trump administration

Apple removes apps enabling anonymous reporting of ICE agent sightings

Reuters

ISLAMABAD: Apple announced on Wednesday that European Union (EU) users are experiencing delays in new features and facing increased privacy and security risks due to the bloc&#39;s landmark Digital Markets Act (DMA), a sweeping regulation aimed at reining in the power of Big Tech firms. The iPhone maker urged regulators to reassess how the law affects EU consumers who use its products, stating that it will continue to work on delivering new features while meeting legal requirements. The company stated that the law has compelled it to postpone the rollout of several features in the EU, including iPhone Mirroring to Mac and Live Translation with AirPods, due to engineering challenges. Apple, which sells millions of its devices and services in the region, added that location-based features in Maps were also postponed in the EU because DMA requires Apple to make certain features work with non-Apple products or third-party developers before releasing them. The iPhone maker said it has not found a way to comply with its demands without compromising user data and that its proposed safeguards were rejected by the European Commission. &quot;It&#39;s become clear that we can&#39;t solve every problem the DMA creates,&quot; Apple said. &quot;Over time, it&#39;s become clear that the DMA isn&#39;t helping markets. It&#39;s making it harder to do business in Europe.&quot; The European Commission did not immediately respond to a request from Reuters for comment. Apple changed the rules and fees in its App Store in the EU in June to comply with the bloc&#39;s antitrust order. The DMA, which came into force last year, requires large tech firms to open up their platforms to competitors. Apple said this has led to a &quot;riskier, less intuitive&quot; app experience for EU users, with sideloading and alternative marketplaces introducing threats such as scams, malware, and pornography apps that were previously banned on the App Store. The Trump administration has consistently criticized the DMA, while the Commission firmly rebutted Trump&#39;s statement. Apple asked the EU to repeal or significantly scale back the regulation, the Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday. It did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment outside regular business hours.

An employee uses Apple's new iPhone 17 smartphone, which is demonstrated in a store during preparations for the series' launch of sales in Moscow, Russia. (Reuters)

Apple argues that new EU regulations may hinder innovation, restrict user choice, and complicate software development across its platforms. 

Apple blames EU tech law for feature delays, risks

Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: Apple launched the AirPods Pro 3, promising significant upgrades to its wireless earbuds, all for a price of $249. The new earbuds offer a number of improved features such as better noise cancellation, sound quality, and a heart rate sensor. Active noise cancellationApple claims the new AirPods Pro offer active noise cancellation (ANC)&nbsp;that removes up to twice as much noise as the previous generation and four times more than the original AirPods Pro. This is achieved through ultra-low noise microphones, computational audio, and new foam ear tips. These ear tips improve the fit and increase noise isolation. Audio qualityThe earbuds feature Adaptive EQ, which reportedly adjusts music in real time to the fit of the AirPods to provide consistent detailed sound. Personalized Spatial Audio uses the iPhone&rsquo;s TrueDepth camera to map the geometry of a user&rsquo;s head. Apple claims it creates an &ldquo;immersive audio experience&rdquo; with a dynamic head tracking for a realistic sound environment. Transparency mode lets users hear voices and ambient sounds naturally while still listening to audio. Fit and durabilityApple says it used data from over 10,000 scans of ears to design the new earbuds for comfort and stability. There are five sizes of ear tips available, including a new &quot;extra-extra-small&quot; option. The earbuds have an IP57 rating, meaning they are resistant to dust, sweat and water, making them suitable for workouts. Health featuresThe AirPods Pro 3 include Apple&rsquo;s smallest heart rate sensor, which uses infrared light pulsing 256 times per second to track blood flow during exercise. This works with the iPhone&rsquo;s Fitness app to monitor heart rate and calories burned across more than 50 different workout types. A new &quot;Workout Buddy&quot; feature offers motivational messages based on Apple&rsquo;s Move rings and Fitness+ Burn Bar.&nbsp;Battery lifeThe earbuds provide up to eight hours of listening time with ANC activated, a 33% improvement on the previous model. They offer up to 10 hours of battery life in Transparency mode. The charging case has a built-in speaker and improved &quot;Ultra Wideband&quot; technology for &quot;Precision Finding&quot;, making it easier to locate misplaced earbuds.&nbsp;Additional featuresLive Translation allows real-time spoken language translation with audio through the new AirPods when paired with Apple Intelligence.&nbsp; Siri supports voice commands, reading messages, and hands-free control with new head gesture functions. &quot;Audio Sharing&quot; lets users share sound with friends by bringing their AirPods close to an Apple device.

Apple launches AirPods Pro 3 with better noise cancellation feature. (Apple.com)

Apple says that its new AirPods Pro combine advanced audio, fitness tracking, and durability in a more comfortable design.

Articles tagged with "Apple"

EU grills Apple, Snapchat, YouTube over risks to children

Apple removes apps enabling anonymous reporting of ICE agent sightings

Apple blames EU tech law for feature delays, risks

Apple launches AirPods Pro 3 with better noise cancellation feature