IT Brief New Zealand - Technology news for CIOs & IT decision-makers
New Zealand

Online Safety Stories - Page 11

Kiwi Stories

Online Safety stories

Meta pushes parental control over NZ teen social media bans
Data Protection

Meta pushes parental control over NZ teen social media bans

Meta promotes parental controls over teen social media bans at NZ Instagram safety camp as debate grows on under-16s' online access.

By Mark Tarre • 4 min read • Wed, 4th Feb 2026

Global Stories

Online Safety stories

Sygnia uncovers global law firm recovery scam network
Data Analytics

Sygnia uncovers global law firm recovery scam network

Sygnia links 150+ domains to a global recovery-scam ring posing as law firms, using WhatsApp and cloned sites to repeatedly target victims.

By Sofiah Nichole Salivio • 4 min read • Sat, 7th Feb 2026
cside unveils toolkit to spot AI agents in browsers
DevOps

cside unveils toolkit to spot AI agents in browsers

cside launches browser-based AI Agent Detection toolkit, helping businesses spot agentic traffic and tailor site experiences in real time.

By Joseph Gabriel Lagonsin • 4 min read • Fri, 6th Feb 2026
Many doubt under-16 social media bans cut online harm
Social Media

Many doubt under-16 social media bans cut online harm

New research finds most people doubt under-16 social media bans will curb online harm, expecting teens to bypass rules and limits.

By Sofiah Nichole Salivio • 3 min read • Thu, 5th Feb 2026
Avast launches Deepfake Guard & expands Scam Guardian
Malware

Avast launches Deepfake Guard & expands Scam Guardian

Avast rolls out Deepfake Guard for Windows and takes Scam Guardian global on mobile in a push to combat rising video-led fraud.

By Melania Watson • 4 min read • Thu, 5th Feb 2026
Global router hijack uses rogue DNS to monetise web
Firewalls

Global router hijack uses rogue DNS to monetise web

Hackers are hijacking ageing home routers worldwide, covertly rewiring DNS to quietly cash in on everyday web browsing traffic.

By Mark Tarre • 4 min read • Wed, 4th Feb 2026
Umanitek launches Guardian Agent to combat AI deepfakes
Software-as-a-Service

Umanitek launches Guardian Agent to combat AI deepfakes

Swiss startup Umanitek has unveiled Guardian Agent, a subscription tool to spot deepfakes, fake profiles and AI-driven impersonation online.

By Mark Tarre • 5 min read • Wed, 4th Feb 2026
OpenAI rolls out age checks ahead of ChatGPT adult mode
Data Protection

OpenAI rolls out age checks ahead of ChatGPT adult mode

OpenAI deploys behavioural age prediction for ChatGPT as it prepares a 2026 adult mode, raising fresh privacy and child-safety concerns.

By Sofiah Nichole Salivio • 5 min read • Tue, 3rd Feb 2026
Sumsub unveils AI tool tying agents to human users
Digital Transformation

Sumsub unveils AI tool tying agents to human users

Sumsub launches AI Agent Verification to link automated activity to verified humans, tackling rising AI-driven fraud without blocking bots.

By Mark Tarre • 4 min read • Fri, 30th Jan 2026

Stories from Other Regions

Online Safety stories

Ottawa funds AI & digital skills push in the North
Generative AI

Ottawa funds AI & digital skills push in the North

Canada is investing CAD $2,815,999 to boost digital skills and AI adoption across Nunavut, the Northwest Territories and the Yukon.

By Jake MacAndrew • 3 min read • Sat, 7th Feb 2026
NFL study links players' data exposure to safety risk
Data Protection

NFL study links players' data exposure to safety risk

Most NFL players' personal data appears on people search sites, with Super Bowl teams facing above-average exposure and heightened safety risk.

By Sofiah Nichole Salivio • 4 min read • Fri, 6th Feb 2026
Canada maps public priorities for new national AI plan
Data Protection

Canada maps public priorities for new national AI plan

Canada distils record public input into priorities for a 2026 AI strategy, balancing innovation, security, sovereignty and public trust.

By Jake MacAndrew • 3 min read • Fri, 6th Feb 2026
BSI launches first global standard for online age checks
Data Protection

BSI launches first global standard for online age checks

BSI unveils the first global standard for online age checks, aiming to harmonise safety rules as countries consider tougher social media curbs.

By Mark Tarre • 5 min read • Wed, 4th Feb 2026
AI voice cloning scams cost Australians AUD $25.8m
Phishing

AI voice cloning scams cost Australians AUD $25.8m

AI voice cloning scams have already cost Australians AUD $25.8m in 2025, as experts warn lifelike fake calls are outpacing public awareness.

By Mark Tarre • 4 min read • Wed, 4th Feb 2026
Google launches age checks for young users in Singapore
Data Protection

Google launches age checks for young users in Singapore

Google has begun using AI-powered age checks in Singapore, tightening default safety settings for under-18s on Search, Play, Maps and YouTube.

By Mark Tarre • 5 min read • Tue, 3rd Feb 2026
Snap locks 415,000 teen accounts, urges app store age checks
Surveillance

Snap locks 415,000 teen accounts, urges app store age checks

Snap locks 415,000 suspected under-16 Snapchat accounts in Australia and renews calls for stricter app store-level age checks.

By Melania Watson • 4 min read • Mon, 2nd Feb 2026
UK daters embrace AI romance as scams & loneliness rise
Mobile Device Management

UK daters embrace AI romance as scams & loneliness rise

Lonely UK daters increasingly turn to AI companions even as romance scams surge, with rising losses and growing trust in chatbots over humans.

By Sofiah Nichole Salivio • 4 min read • Sat, 31st Jan 2026