Andy Burrows
@andyburrows.bsky.social
CEO, Molly Rose Foundation. Tech accountability / online safety / good trouble
Reposted by Andy Burrows
There is a growth paradox at the heart of this government.
A stronger Online Safety Act could grow the economy by £4bn a year.
Read @andyburrows.bsky.social make the case for protecting young people and driving growth in @politicshome.bsky.social
www.politicshome.com/opinion/arti...
A stronger Online Safety Act could grow the economy by £4bn a year.
Read @andyburrows.bsky.social make the case for protecting young people and driving growth in @politicshome.bsky.social
www.politicshome.com/opinion/arti...
A stronger Online Safety Act would protect children and boost the economy
There is a growth paradox at the heart of this government.
www.politicshome.com
May 30, 2025 at 9:28 AM
There is a growth paradox at the heart of this government.
A stronger Online Safety Act could grow the economy by £4bn a year.
Read @andyburrows.bsky.social make the case for protecting young people and driving growth in @politicshome.bsky.social
www.politicshome.com/opinion/arti...
A stronger Online Safety Act could grow the economy by £4bn a year.
Read @andyburrows.bsky.social make the case for protecting young people and driving growth in @politicshome.bsky.social
www.politicshome.com/opinion/arti...
As Meta’s chatbots are shown to lack basic safeguarding protections, a reminder that Ofcom has declined to *take a position* on whether AI chatbots can trigger the illegal safety duties in the #OnlineSafetyAct.
April 29, 2025 at 7:32 AM
As Meta’s chatbots are shown to lack basic safeguarding protections, a reminder that Ofcom has declined to *take a position* on whether AI chatbots can trigger the illegal safety duties in the #OnlineSafetyAct.
Strong front pages today. It’s clear that Ofcom needs to move away from its ‘gamechanging’ PR claims and start engaging with the deep and substantive concerns being widely expressed by civil society. @mollyroseorg.bsky.social
April 25, 2025 at 11:09 AM
Strong front pages today. It’s clear that Ofcom needs to move away from its ‘gamechanging’ PR claims and start engaging with the deep and substantive concerns being widely expressed by civil society. @mollyroseorg.bsky.social
Interesting (ahem) media round from Peter Kyle:
- tells Telegraph he’s interested in a social media curfew
- tells LBC he’s open to regulating online game content, even where not user-to-user services
- claims Ofcom has started enforcement action against several companies (huge if true)
- tells Telegraph he’s interested in a social media curfew
- tells LBC he’s open to regulating online game content, even where not user-to-user services
- claims Ofcom has started enforcement action against several companies (huge if true)
April 24, 2025 at 10:17 AM
Interesting (ahem) media round from Peter Kyle:
- tells Telegraph he’s interested in a social media curfew
- tells LBC he’s open to regulating online game content, even where not user-to-user services
- claims Ofcom has started enforcement action against several companies (huge if true)
- tells Telegraph he’s interested in a social media curfew
- tells LBC he’s open to regulating online game content, even where not user-to-user services
- claims Ofcom has started enforcement action against several companies (huge if true)
Today you’ll hear a lot of PR about @ofcom.bsky.social ’s measures to prevent children being algorithmically recommended suicide and self-harm content. In the small print, Ofcom says these apparently sweeping measures… will cost tech firms £3,000 to £20k per annum. @mollyroseorg.bsky.social
April 24, 2025 at 5:56 AM
Today you’ll hear a lot of PR about @ofcom.bsky.social ’s measures to prevent children being algorithmically recommended suicide and self-harm content. In the small print, Ofcom says these apparently sweeping measures… will cost tech firms £3,000 to £20k per annum. @mollyroseorg.bsky.social
Meta claims it now has 54 million active Instagram Teen Accounts. Any journalists want to ask them how many of these are finsta accounts? @mollyroseorg.bsky.social
April 9, 2025 at 7:59 PM
Meta claims it now has 54 million active Instagram Teen Accounts. Any journalists want to ask them how many of these are finsta accounts? @mollyroseorg.bsky.social
It’s good news that @ofcom.bsky.social has opened an investigation into a suicide forum linked to more deaths than Grenfell. But the real test is how long it takes to get this site blocked in the U.K. - every day means more vulnerable young lives are at risk www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
Online suicide forum investigated under new UK digital safety laws
Ofcom’s first investigation to look into whether site took adequate measures to shield users from illegal content
www.theguardian.com
April 9, 2025 at 8:04 AM
It’s good news that @ofcom.bsky.social has opened an investigation into a suicide forum linked to more deaths than Grenfell. But the real test is how long it takes to get this site blocked in the U.K. - every day means more vulnerable young lives are at risk www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
Reposted by Andy Burrows
Meta announced changes for teens on Instagram and its other products, yet could’ve added DM/live protections years ago. Instead, it rolls them out bit by bit to appease policymakers.
Like @andyburrows.bsky.social, I believe we should be getting data on the impact of teen accounts, not PR.
Like @andyburrows.bsky.social, I believe we should be getting data on the impact of teen accounts, not PR.
Teen restrictions expand on Instagram, Facebook, and Messenger
Helping to protect the handful of teens still using Facebook.
www.theverge.com
April 8, 2025 at 7:52 PM
Meta announced changes for teens on Instagram and its other products, yet could’ve added DM/live protections years ago. Instead, it rolls them out bit by bit to appease policymakers.
Like @andyburrows.bsky.social, I believe we should be getting data on the impact of teen accounts, not PR.
Like @andyburrows.bsky.social, I believe we should be getting data on the impact of teen accounts, not PR.
If Playbook’s reporting is correct, this is an appalling sell-out of children’s safety. How many young lives are we prepared to lose to dodge Trump’s tariffs? @mollyroseorg.bsky.social
April 3, 2025 at 6:33 AM
If Playbook’s reporting is correct, this is an appalling sell-out of children’s safety. How many young lives are we prepared to lose to dodge Trump’s tariffs? @mollyroseorg.bsky.social
Written for LBC on the disturbing threats highlighted by @nca-uk.bsky.social today & why we need to see @ofcom.bsky.social step up to close regulatory gaps entirely of their own making @mollyroseorg.bsky.social
www.lbc.co.uk/opinion/view...
www.lbc.co.uk/opinion/view...
‘Com groups’ are spreading suicide and self-harm among teens—why is government action painfully slow?
The National Crime Agency’s stark warning about extremely disturbing online threats being driven by fluid ideologies and extreme violence should serve as an urgent wake-up call.
www.lbc.co.uk
March 25, 2025 at 5:42 PM
Written for LBC on the disturbing threats highlighted by @nca-uk.bsky.social today & why we need to see @ofcom.bsky.social step up to close regulatory gaps entirely of their own making @mollyroseorg.bsky.social
www.lbc.co.uk/opinion/view...
www.lbc.co.uk/opinion/view...
Really important piece. Those arguing for social media bans neglect the immense toxicity and harm on gaming platforms - and the inevitability that a wave of threats will migrate there if we pull the plug elsewhere. Regulating for safety-by-design is the answer www.theguardian.com/games/2025/m...
Video games can’t escape their role in the radicalisation of young men | Keith Stuart
Those of us who spend our lives gaming can no longer deny knowledge that our online communities are awash with disturbing hate speech and violent rhetoric
www.theguardian.com
March 24, 2025 at 8:11 AM
Really important piece. Those arguing for social media bans neglect the immense toxicity and harm on gaming platforms - and the inevitability that a wave of threats will migrate there if we pull the plug elsewhere. Regulating for safety-by-design is the answer www.theguardian.com/games/2025/m...
Reposted by Andy Burrows
'Adolescence has done an amazing service in facilitating the national conversation about the impact of extreme misogyny and the ways in which online content and online influencers are able to skew the views of teenagers and young boys' - CEO @andyburrows.bsky.social
www.yahoo.com/entertainmen...
www.yahoo.com/entertainmen...
Netflix hit 'Adolescence' stokes UK parents' anxiety
"Adolescence", the Netflix hit series about a British 13-year-old boy arrested on suspicion of a horrifying crime, has intensified the anxiety of parents worried about toxic and misogynistic influence...
www.yahoo.com
March 21, 2025 at 10:35 AM
'Adolescence has done an amazing service in facilitating the national conversation about the impact of extreme misogyny and the ways in which online content and online influencers are able to skew the views of teenagers and young boys' - CEO @andyburrows.bsky.social
www.yahoo.com/entertainmen...
www.yahoo.com/entertainmen...
Reposted by Andy Burrows
Underscores the importance of digital sovereignty - the right of the democratic polity to determine how the internet operates within our jurisdiction, not according to the demands of a foreign power www.abc.net.au/news/2025-03...
US tech giants lobby Trump to tackle Australian social media rules
Silicon Valley, whose top executives have cultivated close relationships with Donald Trump, is now pushing him to pressure Australia to relax its regulations or risk retaliation.
www.abc.net.au
March 20, 2025 at 9:33 PM
Underscores the importance of digital sovereignty - the right of the democratic polity to determine how the internet operates within our jurisdiction, not according to the demands of a foreign power www.abc.net.au/news/2025-03...
Reposted by Andy Burrows
NEW: Months before Google was accused in a lawsuit of facilitating the suicide of a teen user of the Google-tied chatbot startup CharacterAI, researchers at Google DeepMind warned in a paper that chatbots could target minors and manipulate vulnerable users into suicide.
futurism.com/google-suici...
futurism.com/google-suici...
March 18, 2025 at 2:37 PM
NEW: Months before Google was accused in a lawsuit of facilitating the suicide of a teen user of the Google-tied chatbot startup CharacterAI, researchers at Google DeepMind warned in a paper that chatbots could target minors and manipulate vulnerable users into suicide.
futurism.com/google-suici...
futurism.com/google-suici...
Reposted by Andy Burrows
Today #OnlineSafetyAct (finally) in force. Regulator Ofcom says platforms have to 'reduce the risk' of priority illegal content on their sites.
Er, no.
#OnlineSafetyAct says take steps to *prevent* users encountering such content. Significant difference.
www.ofcom.org.uk/online-safet...
Er, no.
#OnlineSafetyAct says take steps to *prevent* users encountering such content. Significant difference.
www.ofcom.org.uk/online-safet...
Enforcing the Online Safety Act: Platforms must start tackling illegal material from today
From today, online platforms must start putting in place measures to protect people in the UK from criminal activity, while Ofcom has launched its latest enforcement programme to assess industry compl...
www.ofcom.org.uk
March 17, 2025 at 7:11 AM
Today #OnlineSafetyAct (finally) in force. Regulator Ofcom says platforms have to 'reduce the risk' of priority illegal content on their sites.
Er, no.
#OnlineSafetyAct says take steps to *prevent* users encountering such content. Significant difference.
www.ofcom.org.uk/online-safet...
Er, no.
#OnlineSafetyAct says take steps to *prevent* users encountering such content. Significant difference.
www.ofcom.org.uk/online-safet...
Tomorrow should be a watershed moment for online safety. Instead, it appears we are going backwards, Ian Russell writes in today’s Observer @mollyroseorg.bsky.social www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Timid new online safety laws won’t prevent more tragedies like the death of my daughter Molly | Ian Russell
Ofcom’s cautious approach leaves vulnerable young people exposed to online threats such as suicide and self-harm
www.theguardian.com
March 16, 2025 at 8:47 AM
Tomorrow should be a watershed moment for online safety. Instead, it appears we are going backwards, Ian Russell writes in today’s Observer @mollyroseorg.bsky.social www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Reposted by Andy Burrows
I’ve blogged about some of the challenges posed by upcoming UK-US digital trade negotiations, particularly for the Online Safety Act privacyx.substack.com/p/uk-digital...
UK digital regulation - what impact could trade negotiations with the US have?
As UK-US trade negotiations are likely to focus in on technology, how might regulation get thrown into the mix and what options could be on the table?
privacyx.substack.com
March 15, 2025 at 4:34 PM
I’ve blogged about some of the challenges posed by upcoming UK-US digital trade negotiations, particularly for the Online Safety Act privacyx.substack.com/p/uk-digital...
Today we’ve learnt chatbots are FOIable, but with 72 hours to go, still don’t know whether they can trigger the illegal duties in the #OnlineSafetyAct. Perhaps the Secretary of State could ask ChatGPT?
March 13, 2025 at 8:56 PM
Today we’ve learnt chatbots are FOIable, but with 72 hours to go, still don’t know whether they can trigger the illegal duties in the #OnlineSafetyAct. Perhaps the Secretary of State could ask ChatGPT?
Worth reading in full Peter Kyle’s comments to @lbc.co.uk earlier today. A mix of vague assurances and an acceptance he’s planning a ‘piecemeal’ approach to fixing the #OnlineSafetyAct - hardly the decisive action that Ian Russell and other bereaved parents have called for @mollyroseorg.bsky.social
March 10, 2025 at 5:43 PM
Worth reading in full Peter Kyle’s comments to @lbc.co.uk earlier today. A mix of vague assurances and an acceptance he’s planning a ‘piecemeal’ approach to fixing the #OnlineSafetyAct - hardly the decisive action that Ian Russell and other bereaved parents have called for @mollyroseorg.bsky.social
This little vignette from the Trump inauguration parties: ‘We’re letting a lot more stuff through. A lot’ said a member of TikTok’s DC-based policy team.
March 8, 2025 at 10:48 AM
This little vignette from the Trump inauguration parties: ‘We’re letting a lot more stuff through. A lot’ said a member of TikTok’s DC-based policy team.
Reposted by Andy Burrows
Molly Rose Foundation is urging the Prime Minster to commit to decisive action to address online harms, including suicide and self-harm grooming.
Latest polling reveals overwhelming public support for more to be done to protect young people online.
mollyrosefoundation.org/prime-minist...
Latest polling reveals overwhelming public support for more to be done to protect young people online.
mollyrosefoundation.org/prime-minist...
March 5, 2025 at 7:34 AM
Molly Rose Foundation is urging the Prime Minster to commit to decisive action to address online harms, including suicide and self-harm grooming.
Latest polling reveals overwhelming public support for more to be done to protect young people online.
mollyrosefoundation.org/prime-minist...
Latest polling reveals overwhelming public support for more to be done to protect young people online.
mollyrosefoundation.org/prime-minist...
Tech firms couldn’t win the arguments in Westminster and Brussels, so their new tactic is geopolitics as a route to minimise their regulatory exposure. Let’s see this clearly for what it is. www.standard.co.uk/news/politic...
Prime Minister says UK guards free speech ‘preciously’ after Vance criticism
The comments came after an earlier exchange with the US vice president.
www.standard.co.uk
February 28, 2025 at 8:53 AM
Tech firms couldn’t win the arguments in Westminster and Brussels, so their new tactic is geopolitics as a route to minimise their regulatory exposure. Let’s see this clearly for what it is. www.standard.co.uk/news/politic...
Reposted by Andy Burrows
MRF CEO @andyburrows.bsky.social has called on the Government to commit to a new #OnlineSafetyAct that can strengthen regulation.
"If the Government has the ambition and the bravery to fix this Act parents across the country will cheer the Prime Minister on.”
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/poli...
"If the Government has the ambition and the bravery to fix this Act parents across the country will cheer the Prime Minister on.”
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/poli...
Ofcom criticised over ‘checklist’ approach to Online Safety Act
The Molly Rose Foundation has called for the Government to step in and strengthen online safety rules.
www.independent.co.uk
February 27, 2025 at 2:30 PM
MRF CEO @andyburrows.bsky.social has called on the Government to commit to a new #OnlineSafetyAct that can strengthen regulation.
"If the Government has the ambition and the bravery to fix this Act parents across the country will cheer the Prime Minister on.”
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/poli...
"If the Government has the ambition and the bravery to fix this Act parents across the country will cheer the Prime Minister on.”
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/poli...
Reposted by Andy Burrows
"A ban makes a great headline and seems straightforward, but it isn’t" (Sonia Livingstone)
This is a really excellent piece showing why so many people working in this space think that social bans are NOT a viable option
www.theguardian.com/media/2025/f...
This is a really excellent piece showing why so many people working in this space think that social bans are NOT a viable option
www.theguardian.com/media/2025/f...
Social media bans for teens: Australia has passed one, should other countries follow suit?
A block for under-16s would soothe many parents’ concerns, but experts are divided over the evidence in support of it, and how it might work in practice
www.theguardian.com
February 27, 2025 at 9:12 AM
"A ban makes a great headline and seems straightforward, but it isn’t" (Sonia Livingstone)
This is a really excellent piece showing why so many people working in this space think that social bans are NOT a viable option
www.theguardian.com/media/2025/f...
This is a really excellent piece showing why so many people working in this space think that social bans are NOT a viable option
www.theguardian.com/media/2025/f...