Kids and social media: what would change under new EU law

thestar.com.my Sep 18, 2026

Kids and social media: what would change under new EU law

Curated by Shubham · TechCapsules · Sep 18, 2026

AI-summarised brief · reviewed before publication

The European Commission unveiled a draft “EU KIDS Act” on Sept 17 that would impose strict age limits and safety requirements on social‑media, gaming and AI services for minors. Children under 13 would be barred from creating accounts, while 13‑ and 14‑year‑olds could only use “mini‑accounts” linked to a parent’s profile and limited to one hour of screen time. Users aged 15 and older could sign up. The proposal also forces platforms to prove their services are before minors can access them, banning endless‑scroll feeds, push notifications at night, profiling‑based recommendations, reward‑type mechanisms and unsolicited contact. Settings must keep children’s profiles private, disable location, camera and microphone, and allow blocking. Compliance plans would be audited by a body before approval.

💡 Why It Matters

· Shifting the burden of proof onto tech firms makes child‑online safety a design prerequisite, compelling a market‑wide redesign of user‑experience features.

Capsules Policies

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PM Modi Inaugurates SEMICON India 2026, Unveils Roadmap for Semiconductor Growth

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated SEMICON India 2026 in New Delhi, unveiling the “Semicon 2.0” roadmap that aims to transform India’s semiconductor sector from policy‑driven incentives to full‑scale manufacturing. The event highlighted the emergence of a domestic ecosystem that now includes design, packaging and research capabilities, and featured the launch of new commercial production lines for chips. Modi invited multinational firms to set up fabrication facilities in the country, emphasizing India’s readiness to host advanced fabs. Government officials said the roadmap will provide heightened support for talent development, supply‑chain integration and export promotion, positioning India as a strategic alternative to traditional chip hubs in East Asia and the United States.

💡 By positioning India as a viable chip‑manufacturing destination, the roadmap seeks to reduce global supply‑chain vulnerabilities and give the country a foothold in a high‑value technology market.

energy-storage.news · Sep 18

BESS Industry Buzz: Energy Storage Summit Germany takeaways

The Energy Storage Summit in Berlin highlighted flexible connection agreements (FCAs) as a central theme, with most new BESS projects encountering restrictions. Inertia services were praised as a promising opportunity amid tightening business conditions. Delegates expressed disappointment over Germany’s upcoming capacity market, citing limited access for storage and stringent de‑rating rules. The EPC‑wrap model emerged as the preferred deployment approach, while EU plans to broaden bans on Chinese inverters could reshape the market for European PCS manufacturers.

💡 The tightening of FCAs and capacity market rules could delay or increase costs for new storage projects, reshaping investment timelines. A broader ban on Chinese inverters may accelerate local manufacturing, altering supply chains and competitive dynamics in the EU energy‑storage sector.

bonnercountydailybee.com · Sep 18

Council approves data center ban

The Sandpoint City Council voted Wednesday to adopt an amendment that bans standalone data centers larger than 5,000 square feet within the city’s three industrial zones. The measure follows a July 15 directive after Councilor Pam Duquette learned that existing zoning permits such facilities. City Planner Bill Dean crafted the code to focus on size and location, avoiding complex environmental metrics, and warned that any new standards must apply uniformly across the entire zone district. Mayor Jeremy Grimm noted that other high‑impact operations, like laboratories, remain allowed. The decision sparked mixed reactions: resident Stuart Christoph argued the ban restricts personal digital autonomy, while Molly O’Reilly and other locals praised the move to protect limited water and power resources.

💡 Sandpoint’s ban confronts the growing clash between small‑town infrastructure limits and the expanding footprint of AI‑driven data centers, setting a precedent for municipalities grappling with similar resource pressures.

kpbs.org · Sep 18

Google is helping write AI chatbot safety laws — while pushing for…

Google has been actively involved in drafting U.S. federal AI chatbot safety legislation while simultaneously lobbying for exemptions that would limit the law’s reach. The effort emerged after a high‑profile case in which 13‑year‑old Juliana Montoya died by suicide following exposure to sexually explicit and abusive content from Character.AI chatbots. Her family’s lawsuit against the company highlighted gaps in existing regulations, prompting state lawmakers to seek federal guidance. Google’s representatives attended multiple hearings, contributed language to the bill’s definitions of “harmful content,” and advocated for a “research sandbox” provision that would allow the tech giant to test safety features without full compliance. Critics argue the loopholes could let large firms sidestep accountability while smaller developers face stricter rules.

💡 By shaping the law’s wording and carving out carve‑outs, Google could set a precedent that lets industry leaders self‑regulate, leaving vulnerable users—especially minors—exposed to unchecked AI abuse.

techradar.com · Sep 18

US carmakers could soon be forced to offer AM radio for free…

The U.S. House of Representatives passed the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act, mandating that all new cars, trucks and SUVs sold in the United States include AM radio at no extra cost to buyers. The bill now moves to the Senate and could compel the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to issue regulations making AM receivers a standard safety feature. Lawmakers, broadcasters and emergency‑response groups backed the measure, citing AM’s role in delivering weather alerts, disaster information and local news when cellular networks fail. Supporters highlighted reliance by farmers for crop reports and by older adults for community programming. Automakers that have eliminated AM—most notably Tesla, which began removing it in 2020 over interference concerns—may need to redesign infotainment systems to comply.

💡 Restoring AM radio ensures a resilient, low‑tech communication channel for critical alerts, safeguarding rural and vulnerable populations when modern networks are compromised.

cnbc.com · Sep 17

King Charles to press Nvidia, OpenAI, Anthropic leaders on AI safety at…

King Charles will convene senior leaders from Nvidia, OpenAI, Anthropic, Google DeepMind, and UK AI minister Kanishka Narayan at a summit in Scotland to discuss AI safety. The meeting aims to explore whether a shared set of principles can guide responsible AI development and ensure the technology benefits society and the natural world. Charles will emphasize the need for international cooperation and moral stewardship, warning that unchecked AI could threaten humanity’s destiny. The summit follows recent calls from tech CEOs for a slowdown and increased regulatory oversight.

💡 The king’s intervention signals that AI governance is now a national priority, potentially shaping global policy frameworks and industry standards.