NC Newsline: NC Senate considers tax on obscene materials, social media age limits, license plate readers. “The Senate Judiciary Committee also discussed several other bills Tuesday morning, including a proposal passed by the House to prohibit minors under 14 from using ‘addictive social media platforms’ and a bill allowing the State Bureau of Investigation to install license plate readers on […]

https://rbfirehose.com/2026/06/03/nc-newsline-nc-senate-considers-tax-on-obscene-materials-social-media-age-limits-license-plate-readers/

NBC News: Malaysia enforces ban on social media accounts for children younger than 16. “Malaysia on Monday began enforcing rules barring millions of children younger than 16 from having social media accounts, joining a global effort to tighten online safety protections for young users.”

https://rbfirehose.com/2026/06/02/nbc-news-malaysia-enforces-ban-on-social-media-accounts-for-children-younger-than-16/

Politico: EU social media ban could come this summer, von der Leyen says. “European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has said that raising the social media age limit across the European Union is on the table, and a proposal could come as soon as this summer.”

https://rbfirehose.com/2026/05/15/politico-eu-social-media-ban-could-come-this-summer-von-der-leyen-says/

Euronews: Children are drawing moustaches on their faces to fool online age checks – and it’s working. “One mother told researchers she caught her son using an eyebrow pencil to draw a moustache on his face to pass a platform’s facial age estimation check. It worked. He was verified as 15. He was 12.”

https://rbfirehose.com/2026/05/05/euronews-children-are-drawing-moustaches-on-their-faces-to-fool-online-age-checks-and-its-working/

European Commission: Commission preliminarily finds Meta in breach of Digital Services Act for failing to prevent minors under 13 from using Instagram and Facebook. “The European Commission has preliminarily found Meta’s Instagram and Facebook in breach of the Digital Services Act (DSA) for failing to diligently identify, assess and mitigate the risks of minors under 13 years old accessing […]

https://rbfirehose.com/2026/04/29/european-commission-commission-preliminarily-finds-meta-in-breach-of-digital-services-act-for-failing-to-prevent-minors-under-13-from-using-instagram-and-facebook/

Arkansas Advocate: Federal judge blocks reworked Arkansas law restricting minors’ social media. “A federal judge has temporarily blocked an Arkansas law set to take effect Tuesday that would have restricted minors’ social media access. Tech industry trade group NetChoice in January filed a lawsuit challenging Act 900 of 2025, which sought to amend a 2023 law found to be unconstitutional.”

https://rbfirehose.com/2026/04/25/arkansas-advocate-federal-judge-blocks-reworked-arkansas-law-restricting-minors-social-media/

Engadget: Estonia is the rare EU country opposing child social media bans. “As child social media bans spread across Europe and beyond, Estonia isn’t having it. On Friday, the country’s education minister said the bans won’t ‘actually solve problems,’ while warning that the kids will find a way regardless.”

https://rbfirehose.com/2026/04/17/engadget-estonia-is-the-rare-eu-country-opposing-child-social-media-bans/

Independent: Russia’s internet crackdown leads to a spring of growing discontent. “Anger and frustration is growing in Russia over government restrictions on the internet that have disrupted daily life, hurt businesses and brought condemnation from both Kremlin critics and supporters alike.”

https://rbfirehose.com/2026/04/10/independent-russias-internet-crackdown-leads-to-a-spring-of-growing-discontent/

Reuters: Indonesia sends letter of reprimand to YouTube over breach of social media curbs, minister says. “Indonesia has sent Google a letter of reprimand because its YouTube ‌platform has not complied with new social media ‌curbs for children, a senior minister said, the first such ​sanction since the rules took effect last month.”

https://rbfirehose.com/2026/04/10/reuters-indonesia-sends-letter-of-reprimand-to-youtube-over-breach-of-social-media-curbs-minister-says/

Associated Press: Austria plans to ban social media use for under 14. “Austria’s governing coalition on Friday announced plans to ban social media use for children under 14, joining a string of other countries in drawing up restrictions for young people.”

https://rbfirehose.com/2026/03/28/associated-press-austria-plans-to-ban-social-media-use-for-under-14/