Ofcom, the UK's media regulator, fined the porn company Kick Online Entertainment SA £800,000 for failing to implement adequate age verification measures, according to BBC Technology. The company did not have "highly effective" methods to ensure UK visitors were over 18 between July and December 2025, according to Ofcom. In other news, Prince Harry expressed gratitude to bereaved families challenging social media firms, and Tesco announced plans to extend Clubcard access to under-18s this year.
Kick Online Entertainment has since introduced age checks, but the fine was levied for non-compliance during the specified period, BBC Technology reported. Suzanne Cater, director of enforcement at Ofcom, stated that it was "non-negotiable" for adult sites to have effective age verification. Meanwhile, message board 4chan faces a £520,000 fine for failing to comply with the UK's Online Safety Law, though its lawyer indicated the company would not pay, according to BBC Technology.
In a separate development, Prince Harry addressed bereaved families involved in a legal challenge against Instagram and YouTube, thanking them for "telling your stories over and over again," as reported by BBC Technology. The families allege the platforms are designed to be addictive. Lawyers for YouTube and Meta, which owns Instagram, reject the allegations. Prince Harry expressed hope for "truth, justice and accountability" in the case, according to BBC Technology.
Tesco plans to make its Clubcard available to under-18s this year, according to BBC Business. The supermarket's loyalty scheme offers discounts and points that can be converted into vouchers. Tesco did not specify the reasons for the change or elaborate on the implementation, BBC Business reported. The move follows advocacy from Which?, urging supermarkets to broaden access to loyalty schemes.
Apple is facing scrutiny from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) over claims of suppressing news from conservative outlets, according to BBC Business. The FTC head called on Apple to review its policies, warning that companies that suppress or promote views based on ideology could violate consumer protection rules. The letter followed an investigation by the Media Research Center, a conservative media watchdog, which accused Apple of a "defiant stance against offering news from right-leaning outlets," BBC Business reported. An Apple spokesman declined to comment.
In Canada, police visited the home of a teenage suspect in a school shooting multiple times due to mental health concerns, according to The Guardian. Authorities had previously seized firearms from the residence approximately two years ago but later returned them. Six people, including a teacher and five children, were killed in the shooting.
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