France Passes New Law to Protect Child Influencers

  • France has introduced a new law to protect young social media stars
  • The legislation aims to regulate the hours under-16s can work online and what happens to their earnings
  • It also enshrines the right to be forgotten, meaning that platforms will be obliged to take down content at the child’s request
  • The popularity of child influencers has grown rapidly in recent years, with a number of young names appearing on the list of YouTube’s top earners
  • The change will make France a pioneer on the rights of child social media stars, the MP behind the bill, Bruno Studer, was quoted as saying by Le Monde newspaper

Department for Education Broke Data Laws on Pupil Protection Finds Report

  • An audit completed by the Information Commissioners Officer has found that the Department of Education has been in direct breach of data protection laws.
  • The audit claims that the has no clear picture of what their data holds, and no Record of Processing Activity in place
  • It has also found that the DfE failed to demonstrate accountability to GDPR, with no formal proactive oversight of any function of information governance, including data protection, records management, risk management, data sharing and information security
  • The compulsory audit, was intended to provide “an assurance of the extent to which the DfE…is complying with data protection legislation”, including how it handles and allows external access to pupil and student data

MPs Claim Huawei Has Clear Links to Chinese Communist Party

  • There is “clear evidence of collusion” between Huawei and the “Chinese Communist Party apparatus”, a parliamentary inquiry has concluded
  • And the MPs say the government may need to bring forward a deadline set for the Chinese firm’s 5G kit to be removed from the UK’s mobile networks
  • Huawei has responded by saying “this report lacks credibility as it is built on opinion rather than fact”
  • But the latest accusation poses a further challenge to its business
  • Although the company’s options in the UK are now limited, it is still trying to sell its 5G telecoms infrastructure to other parts of Europe and beyond, having invested heavily in the technology
  • “We’re sure people will see through these accusations of collusion and remember instead what Huawei has delivered for Britain over the past 20 years,” a spokesman for the company said

Researchers Urge Schools to Delay Exams for Depressed Teenagers

  • Teenagers who struggle with depression significantly underachieve at GCSE, according to new long-term study
  • The King’s College, London, team suggested pupils affected be allowed to stagger or postpone their exams
  • It comes at a time when rates of children’s mental health are expected to increase due to experiences during the COVID lockdown
  • Data on rates of children’s mental health referrals during the lockdown period is not yet available
  • But many voluntary agencies working with young people say they have seen requests for support increase
  • And ministers are currently deciding how they can hold exams, including GCSEs, next year that are fair to those who have missed out on education during the lockdown and beyond
  • Scotland has cancelled all National 5 exams in 2021, which are the Scottish equivalent of GCSES