Headline

US Fines Microsoft $20m Over Child Data Violations

Published

11 months ago

June 6, 2023

Microsoft will pay $20 million to settle government charges that it collected personal information from children without their parents’ consent, officials said Monday.

The Federal Trade Commission alleged that from 2015 to 2020 Microsoft collected personal data from children under age 13 who signed up to its Xbox gaming system without their parents’ permission and retained this information.

To open an account, users had to provide their first and last names, email addresses, and dates of birth.

The FTC said Microsoft violated a law called the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act, or COPPA.

“Our proposed order makes it easier for parents to protect their children’s privacy on Xbox, and limits what information Microsoft can collect and retain about kids,” said Samuel Levine, head of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection.

“This action should also make it abundantly clear that kids’ avatars, biometric data, and health information are not exempt from COPPA,” Levine added.

The decision still needs the approval of a federal court before it can be implemented.

The FTC said Microsoft will be required to take several steps to bolster privacy protections for child users of its Xbox system.

Under the COPPA law, online services and websites aimed at kids under 13 must notify parents about the personal information they collect and obtain verifiable parental consent before collecting and using any personal information collected from children.

Microsoft did not immediately reply to an AFP request for comment.

AFP

Headline

Group Of Top Male Footballers ‘Planning To Come Out As Gay Next Month

Published

15 hours ago

April 25, 2024

Editor

A group of top male footballers ‘are planning to come out as gay on May 17.

German outlet Preussische Allgemeine Zeitung claims a group of professionals across the country will declare publicly their sexual orientation.

The date in question is of particular reference as it is the International Day Against Homophobia.

It is believed that all of the clubs the reported players are aware of the planned proposals.

However, Preussische Allgemeine Zeitung adds that some players still have reservations about revealing their homosexuality and could still make a U-turn in doing so.

Marcus Urban is a former footballer in Germany who came out as gay in 2007, 16 years after quitting the sport. Urban, now 52, is the co-founder of Diversero, a global community for diversity, and hopes next month’s plans do come to fruition.

‘I think they are respected and celebrated for that. Not by everyone, that’s clear. But hate speech cannot be a criterion for a life,

‘May 17 is an offer,’ he told the Editorial Network Germany (RND). ‘A date that you could use as a guide and get together as a group.

‘There is controversy there. Do I still want to wait until the world of football becomes the way I want it to be? Why should I wait? An interesting dynamic has come into play, you can see that people’s minds are starting to move and are thinking about whether it really makes sense to continue to hide and deny themselves.

Urban went on to reveal that there are gay couples playing in the Bundesliga too – declaring it would be ‘liberating’ if they came out.

‘There are also gay Bundesliga couples who are in hiding,’ he continued.

‘That would be so liberating. What’s wrong with it.’

Headline

Saudi Arabia Opens First Alcohol Store, Nigerian Muslims React

Published

15 hours ago

April 25, 2024

Editor

Nigerian Muslims have gone on X to express outrage after it was announced that Saudi Arabia has opened its first alcohol store in Riyadh.

Alcohol consumption is against the teachings of Islam and Saudi Arabia, a Muslim country, has always obeyed to this law by forbidding the operation of alcohol stores in the country.

However, for the first time, the country opened its first alcohol store in the diplomatic quarter of its capital Riyadh.

After it was announced on X, Nigerian Muslims took to the platform to express their displeasure.

“Disgraceful,” one Nigerian Muslim wrote on X. “They’re slowly turning Saudi Arabia into Las Vegas and it’s making me mad. At the rate they’re going , very soon they’ll legalize prostitution and same sex marriage in our most sacred city.”

Nigerian Muslims read the riot act after Saudi Arabia opened its first alcohol store.

Another said: “It’s baffling and disgusting to see that Saudi Arabia has opened the first alcohol store in Riyadh.

“I wonder why the current crown prince is going against the teachings of the holy prophet by accommodating western cultures in a country like Saudi Arabia where the two most holy mosque are situated.

“This is an insult to the religion of peace and the entire Muslim ummah. It’s disgraceful.”

Headline

VIDEO: Meet Nigerian Pastor Who Predicted World Will End April 25

Published

18 hours ago

April 25, 2024

Editor

An unidentified Nigerian pastor has stirred reactions on social media by following a prophetic revelation that the world would end on the 25th of April 2024.

In a video which has since gone viral, the pastor disclosed that God informed him of the end of the world during a prayer session.

The pastor emphasised that he clearly saw the date and that God mentioned it to him twice.

He said, “By the 25th of April, the world is going to end. If you like take this serious, if you don’t like don’t take it serious.

“But this is real, rapture is coming, on the 25th of April 2024, I saw it very clear, do you understand? I saw the date very clear and the lord ministered to me. He mentioned it twice, it has happened twice.”

Watch video below:

VIDEO: Nigerian Pastor Claims World Will End April 25th
An unidentified Nigerian pastor has stirred reactions on social media by following a prophetic revelation that the world would end on the 25th of April 2024.
In a video which has since gone viral, the pastor disclosed… pic.twitter.com/9xFXAtVCNl
— Punch Newspapers (@MobilePunch) April 25, 2024